Became an Evolving Space Monster - Chapter 250
Only Noblemtl
Ep. 249
Amorph gains a penalty each time it gains a type.
Each time you gain a different type, the number of traits required to acquire the new type doubles.
Once a penalty is inflicted, it cannot be removed by any means, so it becomes more difficult for Amorph to acquire the type in the long run.
That’s why I had to carefully decide which type to acquire first, and I often ended up acquiring unnecessary traits just to fill up the number.
This alone is a problem, but there is another, bigger problem.
The only downside is that the unique trait has an inevitable downside and type penalty that creates bad synergy.
Unique skills or traits disappear when a character dies. What if you have a number of traits that are close enough to not receive a type penalty and you die there? You lose both your unique trait and type.
I’ve also had several instances where I died and lost my unique trait, and even lost my type.
‘But they’re easing that penalty.’
Thanks to this, it has become possible to freely combine the characteristics of the types that have already been acquired. In addition, it has become easier to acquire new types in the future.
The ‘Special Defense Enhancement Type’ and ‘Internal Organ Enhancement Type’ that are already unlocked each require 16 characteristics. Since they have already been unlocked, there is no change in the required number.
‘But it’s fortunate that from now on I don’t have to be obsessed with numbers.’
You can freely use the traits you have as fusion materials or trait enhancement materials. From now on, even unique traits can be combined as soon as you have the materials.
‘I guess I can fulfill the evolution conditions faster.’
If you acquire 5 more unique characteristics and 2 more types, you will become an adult.
Thanks to the Space Monster 1st stage reward, the penalties for types you get in the future will be reset, so it won’t be too hard to get new types. If you’re lucky, you might even get a new type before the special defense or internal organ types you already have.
‘To do that, you have to leave here.’
If it were a game, I would have gone to a more difficult hunting ground to obtain unique traits, but not now. Because unique trait synthesis has become easier. Instead, it is better to go to a place where you can obtain the genetic essence of various creatures.
After checking the type compensation, I unlocked the text box. PS-111 should have finished its modifications by now. I should talk to him about when it would be best to leave.
I moved my long fighting arms and wing arms like spider legs and got out of the cargo bay. On the way, I took a peek at the storage area where the kids were.
Number 26 and Heavenly Mother, Adhai, were sleeping together as usual. It seemed like they had fallen asleep from exhaustion while waiting for me.
‘Are you tired from fighting? Huh?’
I was about to take a quick look and leave, but there was a red mark on Adhai’s body. I thought it was a pattern created by mixing the characteristics of the Red Gallagon, but it was a little different. Judging from the scales peeling off, it seemed to be a mark of having been hit by something.
‘Did this happen when you fought Pira Eleven?’
It was definitely fine when the ship landed, but the wound wasn’t that big, so I must have missed it. At this point, even without the nest, it should heal in a day or so.
‘Ugh. I’ll have to be more careful next time.’
I walked quietly out of the storage room.
After acquiring the ‘Great Infectious’ trait and changing, the body became considerably lighter. In addition, the effect of the ‘Stealth Movement’ trait was added, so the synergy was considerable. Despite walking on the alloy plate with a size of about 25m, it barely made a sound.
I moved to the situation room without making a sound.
There was the PS-111, with a bunch of cables attached to its spine, just like I had seen before.
The guy was so focused on looking at the ship data that he didn’t even notice me approaching.
“PS-111?”
“Are you here?”
Only after I called did the guy open his eyes. The red camera lenses that took the place of his eyeballs blinked and stared at me.
“The form has changed a lot from the previously saved ‘Aimorph’.”
“I’ve grown more.”
“Is that so?”
“What were you looking at that you didn’t even notice me coming?”
The guy kept his mouth shut at my question. The red camera lens that was meeting my gaze shook slightly.
‘huh?’
Even though I knew he was a hybrid of machine and organism, his attitude right now was clearly agitated.
The guy who avoided my gaze hesitated for a moment before opening his mouth.
“Please take a look at this.”
As soon as the guy finished speaking, a large hologram appeared in the center of the situation room. The hologram contained a 3D drawing of a creature with precise mechanical devices and amputated limbs.
“Mutant Screamer?”
“Yes. This is the mutant Screamer production map left behind by Pira Eleven.”
The machine was the Screamer’s life support device, and the creature with its limbs cut off was the Hulk mutant that was the raw material for it.
And next to the creature were a few lines of small letters. The words seemed to be genetic information for the creatures that were used as material for the Hulk mutant.
‘The letters are all broken, so it’s hard to read.’
Only a few words were recognizable, and the rest were all broken, as if there was an error.
“What is broken?”
“The broken part is a defense system put in place by a being higher than Pira Eleven. I cannot break through it.”
The only superior being of Pira Eleven is the Great Leader. He must have filtered out the rock.
As I was wondering what the broken letters were, the hologram screen changed. The new screen that was displayed was two videos.
“I looked into who the creature or intelligence responsible for my memories might be. As a result, I was able to confirm the following records.”
As soon as the guy finished speaking, the first video started playing.
On the screen, several test tubes showed reptilian humans with insect features mixed in.
‘Cold blood?’
Judging by their identical appearance, they all appeared to be clones. I caught a glimpse of a name starting with a small P under the test tube, but it quickly passed by.
As soon as the first video ended, the second video started.
Dozens of corpses, seemingly cloned Coldbloods, lay on cold metal plates. Machines came and extracted their brains, transferring them to the Screamer machines behind them.
Of the dozens of Screamer machines, only one was moving. Various mechanical chips were implanted into the brain that activated the Screamer machine. The rest were all discarded.
A metal skull with a number printed on it was placed over a half-mechanical brain.
The number was 111.
“That’s you.”
“Yes. I was a test subject. Of all the clones, I was the only one who succeeded in the experiment.”
It was only then that I realized why the guy had lost his mind.
He was shocked when he saw for himself how he was made.
‘… It can’t be helped.’
The guy who was a fusion of machine and life was in the process of developing a new self. Declaring to Pira Eleven that he was special must have been part of that change. His thoughts were greatly shaken when he realized that he was no different from this ship.
‘hmm.’
There are many science fiction works in which AI becomes so advanced that it even awakens its own self. Many characters struggle with whether they are just programmed machines or independent individuals with autonomy.
Although it is a slightly different case, PS-111’s concerns can be seen as being in the same vein. Who am I? In other words, it is a question about essence.
‘It’s a question I can’t dare answer, but….’
I thought about it for a moment and then said to the guy.
“Can you tell whose clone that Coldblood is?”
“We can’t confirm everything because of the defense system.”
“Then let’s start from there.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You’re trying to figure out who the Coldblood that makes up your brain is. I’ll help you with that.”
If you like things like monsters and creatures, you will inevitably come across various SF works. The suggestion I mentioned just now is the result of what I saw back then.
‘The guy unconsciously thinks that that brain is closer to his true nature.’
The guy had so many of the seeds of the Sea Demon that he was injected with psychic powers by No. 26. He also had quite a few genes from other creatures.
However, he is more interested in the master of the brain, that is, the Coldblood clone. He must have unconsciously judged that it was having a great influence on his thoughts.
In that case, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to follow in the footsteps of the original clone. If he knows what the important beings are among the elements that make up the self, he will be able to reflect on himself.
‘… I’m not sure, though.’
In reality, I am not a specialist in biology or neuroscience. I have no idea how the structure of the guy’s consciousness and thoughts are formed and how they move. I just made a statement based on the media I have seen.
Luckily, my suggestion seemed to pique his interest, because when he heard my suggestion, his camera lens zoomed in and he looked at me.
After a while, the guy nodded his head slightly.
“Eimov’s proposal is an interesting method. We will seriously consider it.”
“That’s fortunate.”
As always, the guy had a blank expression on his face, but he seemed satisfied with our conversation.
The guy who deactivated the hologram by sending a signal to the cable connected to his spine spoke in passing.
“Is there anything you need? Please let me know and I will do whatever it takes.”
After hearing the guy’s words, I remembered why I came to the situation room.
“Find out when Pira Eleven requested support and what response they received.”
“A request for support?”
“If the reinforcement fleet is coming, we need to know when it will arrive.”
“Please wait a moment.”
The guy who heard my request closed his eyes and started searching through the ship’s computer.
The spine that jutted out through the tissues of his back trembled. Light flashed as electrical signals passed through the many cables connected to his spine.
“The request for assistance was made five weeks ago. The Pira Eleven suffered major damage, which hindered the mission, making it difficult to communicate.”
“Five weeks ago? What does it say about the damage?”
“Oddly enough, that part isn’t recorded separately. It’s assumed that Pira Eleven hid it.”
The androids of the Machine Committee have advanced intelligence, making it very easy for them to deceive others.
However, I couldn’t understand why he would do that to the highest-ranking members, who could be considered his colleagues. And that too in a situation where he was asking for support.
“After that, we went into damage repairs and there was no contact from Pira Eleven until 32 hours ago when we received another request for assistance.”
“It’s time to fight at Gallagon’s Nest.”
“Yes. I have attached the information that was transmitted before the Screamers’ communications were cut off.”
At that time, I didn’t use the unique characteristics, so it’s impossible for them to know all of my power. However, I was caught up in my relationship with Gallagon, that is, the fact that I have allies. When they fight me in the future, they will come prepared enough.
“There has been no separate contact from that side?”
“Please wait a moment.”
The guy checked the records stored on his computer again. It took quite some time this time to get the messages he received, as it was difficult to disable the defense system, other than the ones he sent.
Has it been about 30 minutes?
The guy’s eyes widened.
“We’re in trouble, Aimov. Three weeks ago, Europa Two led a support fleet and set sail for this planet.”
“what?”
“The elite fleets of the Nemea Five, Red Tail Eight, and Arrow Nine have joined the support fleet.”
When I heard that, my heart sank.
If you left three weeks ago, you should be here within a few days from today.
‘It might arrive tomorrow at the earliest!’
If it’s a reconnaissance fleet under the support fleet, it’s possible that they could come tomorrow. I asked him urgently.
“How long do you think it will take?”
“Assuming that we utilize engines equivalent to this ship, the advance party will arrive in 18 hours.”
“Check if the ship can depart.”
“All right.”
This time, I can’t use Nightmare Horizon. This ship is so big that it takes a long time to erode. If the enemy arrives early, I won’t be able to do anything.
So I’ll leave the pilot to him and I’ll have to prepare for any eventuality.
After giving the order to the guy, I hurried to the storage room and woke the kids up.
“Big baby, are you done?”
“What is it?” “What is it?” “What is it?”
“What on earth are you… Ah, this is your new transformed appearance.”
[Zuzu zuzu zuzu zuzu zuzu (That’s not important right now)]
Number 26 asks if I’m done growing, and Adhai looks bewildered as he just woke up. Heavenly Mother trembles as if she’s not used to my new appearance.
I quickly explained the situation to the guys.
“The four highest ranking members are coming here?”
[Zuzuzu zuuzu zuuzu zuuzu (additionally, the Grand Commander can come)]
The Heavenly Mother quickly understood what I was saying and her amber eyes widened.
“What are we going to do? If the players are mixed in, it’s hard for us to win now.”
[Zuzuzuzuzu zuzuzu zuzu (We won’t fight this time)]
If there are two top members, I can somehow deal with them, but four is difficult. Moreover, if players get involved, it is a sure defeat.
‘Even if I somehow survive…’
You’re going to lose all the guys here, including the newly acquired Gallagons. Losing your hard-earned Gallagons once is enough.
I turned my gaze to Adhai.
[Zzzzzz zzzzzzzz zzzzzzzz (Go to the nest and bring all the Gallagons)]
“Compatriots” “Together” “Leaving?”
“You really?”
[Zz zuzuzu zuzuzu (Yeah. It’s time to move)]
It’s finally time to leave this icy planet.