Became an Evolving Space Monster - Chapter 312
Only Noblemtl
Episode 312 – Monster Hunt (3)
–
A number of cultists walked through the dark underground labyrinth.
Most of them wore suits of reinforced clothing, but some wore very large armor.
Their true identity is the fully armed Eye of Revelation Priests, who appear to be two heads taller than the surrounding cults. The reinforced suits they wear are special reinforced suits made to fight the Vortex One cult.
Even the most psychic-powered cultists have a hard time maintaining their sanity when exposed to the power of Vortex One. Even warriors who have trained for decades have been known to go mad in a split second while fighting the cult.
To prevent this, the priesthood provides a means to protect the most important warriors. The name of this reinforced clothing given to the most elite priests is ‘Heresy Inquisition Clothing’. It is a piece of equipment that processes a large amount of Nova Metal into dark matter and provides immunity to various energy-based attacks.
Not only that, it also has excellent physical defense, so it can withstand the cannon fire of battleships. In terms of defense alone, it is superior to the ‘Dragon Scale Clothing’ of its rival, the Temple Guardians.
The downside is that because of its unique resistance effect, it cannot receive any assistance from psychic techniques that are helpful in battle, and its weight is very high, which slows down its movements.
Besides, some of those underground now were carrying special weapons.
The warriors standing in the middle of the group are walking, each holding a single weapon.
The name of the weapon that resembles a spear wielded by a giant or mythical being is ‘Slayer’. It is a modified version of the ‘Demolisher’ mainly used by the Temple Guardians, and is a standard heavy weapon.
Although it is a popular model, it has much greater firepower than the Demolisher due to its large size. As a result, it is mainly used when fighting Outspacers with hard shells. Considering the specs of the beings they have to deal with now, the Slayer is absolutely necessary, so it was brought.
The speed of the punitive force was extremely slow due to the warriors carrying heavy weapons and the priests wearing equally heavy equipment.
But no one blamed him for this.
Their opponents are monsters with great strength, high intelligence, and even the ability to transform. If you don’t have this level of equipment, you’ll most likely die when you face them. Didn’t the punitive force that came before them actually suffer great losses?
So the punitive force adopted a strategy of building a siege net that could slowly but surely drive the enemy back in. It took a whole day, but the results were certain.
Now, in addition to them, there are thousands of cult warriors waiting underground at each location. When the punitive force or the warriors waiting at each location encounter the ‘three-headed demon’, the warriors at other locations re-establish a siege network targeting its movement path.
While the siege was being built, the creature attempted to attack the defenders and the punitive force at each location, but the damage was minor. Conversely, the punitive force succeeded in injuring the creature.
About 3 hours ago, as they were moving towards a fork in the road, the thing suddenly appeared in front of them.
Acidic liquid and chunks of corrosive mold poured out of the hideous creature’s mouth.
Two types of attacks came, but this time the punitive force was well prepared. The punitive force, led by heavily armed priests, easily defended against the attacks. While the priests were blocking the attacks with the defensive effect of the Inquisitor, the warriors holding the Slayers began to fire.
Even its hard shell couldn’t stop the Slayer’s material decomposition bullets. Two of the horns on its eyeless head were hit by the bullets and destroyed. The creature didn’t expect this, as it fled as soon as its horns were damaged.
The punitive force, having achieved their first result after entering the underground, was greatly encouraged. If they could injure someone, they could also kill them.
From then on, he did not reveal himself properly. Instead, he used his unique ability to mimic voices to deceive the punitive force.
However, there was nothing to be sorry about from the punitive force’s point of view.
The longer the game of tag goes on, the more advantageous it is for the punitive force, not the guy. The cult is the master of this planet. The punitive force can receive unlimited support, but the guy cannot.
And in a few hours, reinforcements from the Temple Guardians will arrive. With the monster hunting experts joining in, the tide of the battle will definitely turn in favor of the punitive force.
“Movement occurs within 500m ahead.”
“It’s going well. Share this with the priests in other branches.”
“yes.”
The deputy commander of the Eye of Revelation Priests’ Order, who was the temporary commander of the punitive force, nodded to his subordinate’s words.
The warriors with Slayers were ready to fire at any moment, and the priests in the Inquisition’s garb held their weapons in their hands tightly.
The cultists’ breathing and footsteps as they moved were recorded on the dirt.
As the distance between the point where the movement occurred and the punitive force gradually narrowed, a sound was heard.
“Everyone stop.”
At the vice-captain’s words, everyone stopped moving. In the silence where not even a breath could be heard, a sound was heard again.
“Help me!”
In the darkness that had not yet been revealed, someone was calling for help. But the vice-captain did not move hastily.
“Is there a waiting point nearby?”
“There is one.”
“What’s the contact?”
The subordinate who quickly contacted shook his head. The deputy manager immediately gave an order.
“Everyone, be careful. He’s nearby.”
“yep.”
“If you see anything moving, open fire. That is my order.”
Up until now, he’s been deceiving them by imitating their voices. It’s unlikely that this opponent is an ally.
Moreover, orders had already been given from above a long time ago regarding this. He could imitate the voices of other intelligent beings, so if there was any suspicion, he was to be attacked immediately.
The punitive force, under the command of the vice-captain, slowly walked towards the direction where the voice was heard.
“Help me! Help me!”
“Don’t worry about it. Just do your job. I’ll take responsibility for everything.”
“Help meeeeeeeeeee!”
As they got closer, the screams became more and more desperate. Every time the voices were heard, the deputy commander would urge the punitive force members not to panic.
Then suddenly the voice cut off. The passageway that should have been filled with silence began to vibrate. The vice-captain, who saw something beyond the shaking darkness, shouted loudly.
“Commence firing!”
The Slayer and various weapons were spitting fire, lighting up the black cave. A loud explosion stronger than the light struck the walls of the passage without mercy. A gigantic creature was seen twisting its body through the flashing light.
The indiscriminate firing of the punitive force ended after the creature stopped moving. The dirt-covered ground was now soaked with the creature’s blood.
Although no living creature could survive after losing this much blood, the vice-captain did not let his guard down.
“Check it out.”
A priest approached the man cautiously.
“Father, Vice-Captain!”
“What? Are you still alive?”
“That’s not it! Come here!”
The voice of the subordinate who checked the body was clearly filled with embarrassment.
Only after the vice-captain checked the body did he realize why he had panicked.
A corpse in front of him.
The identity of the thing that had half of its body hidden in the dirt was not a three-headed demon.
It was the Red Worm, a being that had a significant impact on the ecosystem of this planet.
“Uh, what should I do?”
If only the guy were still alive, things would be better than they are now.
‘…Fuck.’
The dead red worm was not yet fully grown. Its size was similar to that of the three-headed demon they were chasing.
That means he could have avoided the attention of the punitive force by pretending to be a Red Worm. No, he could have gotten out of this area a long time ago.
It was a blind spot that arose because tracking was done only based on the size and vibration of the organism.
“Contact upstairs immediately. He’s mixed in with the Red Worms.”
“Yes. Okay… .”
At that moment, the previously quiet passage began to vibrate. The deputy commander knew what that vibration meant.
“Another Red Worm is coming! Everyone, prepare for battle!”
The three-headed demon didn’t simply run away.
A huge trap he had prepared was waiting for them.
–
‘I got caught.’
Vibration felt without the auxiliary organs touching the ground.
It was a sign that the red worms were moving.
They must have thought they had successfully surrounded me, but that was not the case at all. On the contrary, I led them to a specific location.
Right into Red Worm’s territory.
The punitive force didn’t seem to notice, but the passages they’re standing in now weren’t made by me. All I did was create a side path to the tunnels the Red Worm passes through.
Also, while leading the enemy to the Red Worm’s territory, I did not forget to let them hear my voice. Thanks to this, the enemy made the serious mistake of thinking that I was the only one who could imitate others’ voices under the Red Desert.
‘I know what the ranker did wrong, but…’
It’s too late to turn back now.
There are two ways for the ranker to catch me here.
Either come down and chase me, or kill all the moving red worms.
‘I’d probably choose the latter.’
If the other person is smart, he or she will probably have figured out that I have provoked this situation. His or her guard against me has been greatly heightened, but it is unlikely that he or she will come underground directly.
However, it is not easy to come here and take out the Imperial Carrier. Destroying Berzan 02 is a completely different matter from bombing the Holy Land.
Even if I somehow manage to destroy it, what if I don’t die? Would the opponent be able to take the risk of fighting me in an empty space without anyone’s support?
Therefore, the only way for the enemy ranker to pursue me is to kill the Red Worm to facilitate his pursuit.
‘The problem is that that’s my real intention.’
Before he built his siege, I encountered over 80 red worms. How long would it take to track down and kill all of these red worms? It would take at least a week.
While they go after their wrong targets, I just have to wait until I can transform.
‘Of course, you’ll need to add some seasoning in between.’
In order to keep the enemy from deviating from my plan, I need to show up at the right time. Only then will the enemy have false hopes and continue to pursue Red Worm.
It’s a bonus that it keeps making me believe that I’m ‘weak’.
‘Then move again… oops.’
Just as I was about to go find those who had not yet encountered the Red Worm, I remembered something I had forgotten.
I raised my fighting arm and grabbed the two horns on the left head. I used all my strength to break them.
Number 26 saw me breaking a good horn and poked me with his tentacles.
“Big baby, why did you break the horn?”
[Zuzu zuzu zuzu zuzu zuzu zuzu (I’m acting like I’m not getting better)]
“Acting? I know acting! Even me imitating bad guys is acting!”
[Zuzuzu (correct)]
“I’m good at acting too! Look!”
The guy said that and took out a ‘mutant tentacle’. The normal tentacle began to twitch and change, and then it changed into something that looked like the left side of my head with a broken horn. It was exactly the same shape as my head now, except it was pink.
[Zuzuzu (good job)]
“I’m good!”
[Zuzu zuzu zuzu zuzu zuzu zuzu zuzu (When you meet bad guys, do as you usually do)]
“Yeah. It’s acting.”
The guy whose tentacles had been restored to their original state climbed onto my head.
After that, I went around with the guy and teased the enemies. Even after Adhai joined along the way, the plan didn’t change.
As expected, the enemy took the approach of reducing the Red Worms. However, far more people than I had expected were sent underground.
‘Even the Temple Guardians will be mobilized.’
The Temple Guardians are the bodyguards of the priests and experts in monster hunting. They are not originally stationed in Berzan 02. There is no need for them because the Eye of Revelation Priests are there.
However, seeing warriors wearing dragon scale costumes walking around here, it was clear that they had been hastily summoned from another planet.
‘I guess you really want to catch me… .’
One thing is wrong with that method.
A lot of people wasted time trying to kill Red Worm, mistaking him for me. Thanks to that, I was able to survive for two days underground without much damage.
‘One hour from now.’
After about an hour, the cooldown for ‘Organic Evolution’ will end. After that, you can leave this place in a transformed state.
The Heavenly Mother and PS-111 have already prepared to take me out a long time ago. They will be waiting for me at the promised location outside.
‘Before we go, let’s keep the enemy at arm’s length for the last time.’
[Zzuzuzu zuzuzu zuzu zuzuzu (I have something to do, so I’ll go first)]
“huh.”
“Quick” “Come” “I’ll wait”
I gave a pat to No. 26 and Adhai, who have worked hard so far, and sent them off first.
I left the guys behind and headed towards the direction where the cult group was gathered.
‘huh?’
When I was not far from them, my auxiliary organs sensed a strange energy.
The cultists who came to this underground never traveled in small groups. But this presence I felt now, it did not feel like a large number at all.
‘And this familiarity, I’m sure I’ve felt it somewhere before.’
The being coming towards me made extremely faint footsteps and showed refined movements like a machine. It was definitely the movements of someone I had encountered in person, but I couldn’t remember when I had seen them.
‘Just in case.’
I prepared an acid breath towards the direction my opponent was coming from. The moment the owner of the suspicious sound appeared beyond the cave, I fired the breath.
A cannon of thick green liquid traversed the passage and struck its target.
“… Acidic mucus. Nothing has changed.”
‘Huh?’
A voice was heard from the passageway filled with acidic smoke. Then, an invisible blade of wind flew through the fog and cut off one of the horns on the head in the center.
‘Could this be?’
“Do you remember me?”
I was more surprised by the identity of my opponent than by the fact that the tip of his horn had been cut off.
Long black hair, a slender body, and eyes that have a cool yet calm madness.
Of all the people I’ve met, only one has this trait.
The first strong enemy I encountered after falling into this world.
A genetically modified human who lost to me in a fight for his life.
‘Sihyeon Eugene?’
She, who had once died, emerged from this dark underworld.