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[Translator – Seraph]
[Proofreader – Draxx]
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Chapter 447
“What? They need more reinforcements?”
｢Y-Yes, sir! The enemy is too powerful…｣
“Goddamn it! It’s just one ship! And they can’t beat that?!”
｢Eek?! I-I’m sorry!｣
At Jacob’s furious shout, the man displayed in the hologram shrank back instinctively.
“A single ship is threatening the collapse of the entire gateway city?”
Even with superweapons, it's rare for one to single handedly destroy a space fortress. No matter how powerful or tactically dominant it might be, without fleet support, it’s just a big target.
And yet, the entity currently annihilating both the fortress and its fleet… was only one. Not even a superweapon.
Jacob glared at the footage being projected on the left side of the hologram.
The video, taken from one of their own ships, showed a black vessel. Judging by its shape, it looked like a Star Union destroyer but its performance far exceeded that of any standard destroyer.
The enemy had just breached the friendly formation and rammed another vessel head-on. The impacted ship exploded instantly, shattering into pieces.
The black destroyer, on the other hand, emerged completely unscathed. It pulled back without a scratch and launched red torpedoes in every direction.
Star Union ships were known for their heavily armored prows, which is why they sometimes employed ramming tactics during combat. But even so, there were limits. After two or three collisions, the front of the ship would usually suffer serious damage.
Yet this destroyer defied that logic. It had already destroyed hundreds of vessels, and not a single sign of damage.
It was as if its outer hull could regenerate on its own.
“Can’t we just shoot it down from a distance?”
｢We already tried. But our attacks don’t land. It seems to have some sort of unidentified force field…｣
Unfortunately, that was true.
Multiple warships had fired on it from long range, but not a single shot had hit. Whenever a beam neared the destroyer, it would twist off course unnaturally.
Instead, the ships closest to the target ended up taking collateral damage.
“So those lunatic androids really did develop drones that can manipulate plasma energy…”
Not long ago, spies reported that the Star Union had begun developing anti-plasma weapons.
It appeared those reports were accurate. This enemy destroyer was undoubtedly one of their new experimental weapons.
“Disgusting tin cans… I knew something was off when they agreed to that peace treaty so easily.”
Jacob had suspected this would happen from the moment the MegaCorp CEO began pushing for a treaty with the Star Union. Those damned machines were always going to betray them. And now, his prediction had come true.
“That destroyer… it must be a prototype.”
They had probably deployed it here—where Outspacer resistance was strongest—to test its capabilities. Surely, somewhere beyond the system, a Star Union fleet was observing it.
“…This won’t end with just that one ship.”
Jacob felt a migraine coming on, but he didn’t have time to waste.
After quickly organizing his thoughts, he broke the silence.
“Refit the reinforcements with old-model missile launchers. Maybe they’ll bypass whatever energy field is warping plasma.”
｢Understood! I’ll make the preparations immediately!｣
“And dispatch Giga-Crackers with the support fleet as well.”
｢What?｣
At the mention of Giga-Crackers, a hint of panic appeared on the subordinate’s face.
｢B-but sir! The ion cannons on Giga-Crackers are far too powerful! The city could be damaged!｣
“That won’t be an issue. They’re only there to keep it in check.”
Jacob had no intention of actually firing the Giga-Crackers. One of his most valuable assets was still inside the gateway city.
A subordinate who had secured a living Outspacer parasite hadn’t yet left the city. And a live parasite was absolutely vital for developing anti-Outspacer weaponry. It had to be protected at all costs.
“They started this just to test their new weapons anyway.”
Surely, once they saw two Giga-Crackers arrive, they’d pull back. Losing a precious prototype wouldn’t be worth the risk.
｢Ahem, I’ll contact the Giga-Crackers right away.｣
“Good.”
Following Jacob’s orders, the subordinate requested support from the Giga-Cracker units. Meanwhile, other ships continued stalling the black destroyer.
About twenty minutes later, two superweapon markers appeared on the holographic tactical map.
Once the Giga-Crackers arrived, the black destroyer reacted immediately. The enemy, which had been engaged in fierce combat with friendly forces, began a rapid retreat.
｢It’s pulling back!｣
“Just as expected.”
Gone was the relentless, slaughtering monster—replaced by a ship fleeing in panic.
Jacob and his subordinate exchanged a satisfied smile.
But the smile didn’t last.
｢Shall we send a pursuit fleet—huh?｣
Just as they prepared to pursue, the destroyer abruptly changed course—heading straight for the gateway city. Then, without hesitation, it entered.
“You insect-brained bucket of bolts! You’re really doing this?!”
Its objective was clear. It couldn’t face the Giga-Crackers head-on, so it intended to take the city—and its people—hostage.
｢W-what should we do?｣
“……”
Instead of answering, Jacob tapped on his terminal.
A short message was sent to his most important asset—Blair—urging immediate evacuation from the city.
The Giga-Crackers would soon open fire.
***
‘Was that overkill?’
After unleashing Horizon of Nightmares, I must have destroyed around forty to fifty vessels at the destroyer class or above. On top of that, I reduced an entire orbital fortress to ashes.
I figured they'd be furious after suffering such heavy losses, but I didn’t expect them to bring out a superweapon.
Far behind the fleet locked in combat with me, I sensed a tremendous surge of energy. A Giga Cracker—the ultimate weapon equipped with an ion cannon powerful enough to split asteroids in two. And not just one, but two of them, stationed here by Megacorp Saint-K.
‘Two Giga Crackers? So this really is one of Megacorp’s core star systems.’
If I were in my base form, maybe. But in my current state, I couldn’t handle one of those things. I could manipulate energy to some extent, but it was doubtful I could withstand the firepower of a massive ion cannon.
‘Time to retreat.’
PS-111’s job should be done by now. There’s no need to clash with a superweapon.
I immediately withdrew from the battlefield and headed toward the gate city. No matter how much they hated me, they wouldn't dare fire a Giga Cracker here—not when the orbital fortress had already been blown up.
Accelerating swiftly, I dove into the wreckage of the shattered fortress.
The aftermath of my rampage had left the interior of the dome in complete chaos. Panels that once projected an artificial sky were destroyed, plunging large sections into darkness. Below, the city burned in flames.
Above the blazing buildings, ships of every shape and color zipped through the air—visitors who had entered the system and been caught up in the chaos.
‘The others should be... that way.’
Just as I was about to fly toward the center of the burning city, a dull impact struck the rear of my infested vessel.
‘A torpedo?’
Pursuing warships had begun launching torpedoes from a distance.
Normally, Megacorp favored plasma weaponry, while the Star Union preferred drone-based torpedoes. Still, since both factions stemmed from a common origin, they sometimes borrowed each other's weapons depending on the situation.
The torpedoes they fired lacked guidance systems, likely stripped of their control computers—essentially, massive unguided shells. I suppose they switched to them after realizing energy weapons were ineffective.
‘Too late for that to matter now.’
I didn’t bother counterattacking. I focused solely on flight. Hundreds of torpedoes slammed into the hull, but it didn’t matter. I was planning to abandon this vessel before leaving anyway.
Reaching the central zone, where the administration facilities were concentrated, I spread wave pulses from my tentacles—calling out to ask where they were.
Almost immediately, a familiar energy signature responded from beneath a nearby massive building. Upon sensing my signal, Adhai released a bit of her ‘dragon power’ to mark her location.
‘There you are.’
Without hesitation, I rammed the building's lower floors.
No matter how advanced its construction, a building can’t survive a direct hit from a creature several hundred meters long. The massive structure didn’t hold for even a second—it collapsed instantly, rubble piling onto my back.
Outside the wreckage, I sensed the enemy ships that had been tailing me drawing closer. They’d stopped firing, now hovering silently above the ruins.
‘Bet they’re confused.’
The monster that had just been slaughtering them suddenly crashed into a building and vanished. Of course they wouldn’t understand.
Worried that I might go berserk again, they didn’t dare approach, merely circling the area cautiously.
‘Now’s the time.’
I deactivated Horizon of Nightmares. The tentacles connecting me to the vessel withdrew, and my body began to levitate, held aloft by the energy field. At the same time, my wide-reaching sensory network spread throughout the hull was cut off.
With the infestation reversed, the ship was now just trash shaped like a warship.
Not that the enemies outside would realize that.
Let’s begin, then.
All three of my heads pointed downward, jaws opening wide. Time for Acidic Mycotic Gland to shine again.
The organ deep in my throat generated green spheres that poured down below.
The trait Warped Abomination had modified the effects of Great Infector, nullifying the added enhancements I’d given to traits like the Acidic Mycotic Gland. That’s why I wasn’t spewing breath now, but fungal masses instead.
Still, melting the floor should be simple enough.
The acid blobs fired from my three mouths burned gaping holes into the ground. Beneath them, I saw the rubble of the collapsed building.
A few more volleys of fungus carved out a deep, wide pit leading underground.
[ZZZ ZZ (Shall we go?)]
｢Yeah.｣
Number 26, who had been watching the floor melt with delight, hopped onto my head. Lifting myself with the energy field, I descended into the pit with it riding along.
We passed through multiple layers before reaching the lowest point—where broken rails and a partially collapsed tunnel stretched out before us. It was a subway line running beneath the building.
And there, familiar faces greeted us.
｢Big One｣｢Welcome back｣
“You’ve done well.”
“Did you get what you needed?”
In response to my question, PS-111, now mutated into a winged Screamer-type, pointed to its own head.
“I’ve copied all the data into my secondary brain. I also confirmed where we need to go next.”
“Good. So we head out immediately?”
“Yes.”
｢Waiting｣ ｢Boring｣ ｢Hurry｣ ｢Let’s go｣
Then Adhai approached and lightly pressed her head against mine. I'd asked her to escort PS-111 just in case, but judging by her behavior, it must have been a boring task.
“They should’ve arrived by now, right?”
“Of course.”
[ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Good. Then let’s move.)]
We started making our way through the tunnel.
A few minutes later, we stopped in the middle of it.
This was the destination. Unlike before, now it was time to punch a hole in the ceiling.
A few blasts from my acidic spheres brought the ceiling crashing down.
｢I’ll help too!｣
｢Rocks｣ ｢Clear｣ ｢Easy｣
Seeing me at work, Number 26 and Adhai joined in, using their own abilities to clear the collapsed debris.
It didn’t take long before the opening was large enough for me to pass through. I ascended straight up through it.
As soon as I emerged onto the surface, I was greeted by the rubble of collapsed buildings and thick black smoke filling the air. In the distance, I could faintly hear human screams and the sound of burning structures crumbling apart.
I ignored it all and looked upward to check what was in the sky.
Hovering right above me was a warship refitted as a rescue vessel. It belonged to Edgerton, controlled by Isabel, the MPS, and a parasite-infected crew.
Just as we had planned, Isabel waited for us at the designated location, the hangar bay already open.
We quietly flew up and entered the open hangar. A few people on the street caught sight of me, but I wasn’t worried. My energy field would drive them insane before they could think twice.
Once everyone was aboard, the rescue ship immediately took off. It accelerated rapidly, blending in with other ships fleeing the city and slipping out.
‘Looks like it ended without a hitch.’
Just as I thought that, lying low inside the cramped hangar, one of my auxiliary organs detected two massive energy signatures.
｢Oh no! Everyone, get ready!｣
Suddenly, Isabel’s voice rang out from the internal speakers. At the same time, the two enormous energy readings surged past the rescue ship.
An instant later, a cataclysmic wave of energy erupted from where we had just escaped. It was so intense that even the organ below my jaw tingled from the resonance. The resulting shockwave slammed into the ship, shaking it violently.
‘No way…’
Two massive energy spikes… then a huge explosion. Prime Capital Edgerton had fired its Giga Cracker at its own city—just to kill me.
‘I thought maybe I went a little too far this time…looks like I was right.’
｢Big Baby, over there it went KWA-WAAM! KWA-WAAM!｣
｢That thing｣ ｢I too｣ ｢Easily｣ ｢Can do it｣
“A loss-heavy and irrational decision. Most likely driven by stress accumulated from prolonged war.”
The others, too, commented on the blast after feeling its tremors.
Well, at least now there's no trace of me left behind.
They overreacted more than expected, but this works out nicely.
Soon, the Fourth—who I implanted with a parasite—will hear that the orbital city has been annihilated. They’ll delay any strikes until they figure out what happened. That gives me free reign to roam the system without interference.
More importantly, I’ve now learned what kind of person rules this star system: arrogant and vengeful, unwilling to forget even the slightest humiliation. A textbook example of Megacorp’s elite. I’ll have to remember that for the upcoming war against the Outspacers.
“This wasn’t exactly how I planned it, but it turned out well enough. So, where do we go next?”
“NOX-02.”
That planet—I knew the name.
“There’s a research base there?”
“Yes. All of Pyra Eleven’s cargo was transferred to that location.”
The place I knew had unique environmental conditions—unlike a standard colony, it resembled an orbital city more than anything. It didn’t seem like the kind of place to conduct Mutant Screamer research.
Or maybe that’s exactly why they chose it—because no one would suspect it.
Rankers like me wouldn’t think there was anything of importance there. That made it the perfect site for a secret project.
“This is getting interesting. Let’s head there.”
“Yes. I’ll inform Little Brother.”
And just like that, our next destination was set.
We were going to the planet that held the secret of the Mutant Screamers: NOX-02.
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[Translator – Seraph]
[Proofreader – Draxx]
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