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[Translator – Seraph]
[Proofreader – Draxx]
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Chapter 453
｢Grrrk.｣
The left head purred in contentment, apparently pleased from being full. The right head flicked its tongue, also showing satisfaction.
The freezer, which had been intact when I entered, was now half-destroyed.
‘I really shouldn't use my Hunting Form in confined buildings.’
I thought I had more space, but I was wrong. With my body suddenly expanding, the whole freezer nearly collapsed.
Anywhere else, it wouldn’t matter, but this place lies tens of kilometers beneath the ocean. If the facility were to collapse and seawater rushed in, all the samples would be lost at the bottom.
‘Good thing the facility is sturdy.’
Despite the unexpected mishap, I managed to secure the genetic samples without much trouble.
‘There was a surprising variety of samples, too.’
Normally, bioweapons like Hulk Mutants and Screamers are made for very specific purposes: what missions they’ll perform, what kind of enemies they face, and so on.
The Screamers created from Rankers are no different. For example, PS-111 was developed as a command unit, and the Psychic Screamer I fought against with Akira Yujin played a specific operational role. You inject and fuse the optimal genes to match the intended role that’s the foundation of bioweapon design.
But here, there was a mix of rare genetic samples one hardly ever sees, as well as offbeat, seldom-used organisms. Especially with the latter group, it was mostly prey-type marine species with group behavior.
‘No wonder the experiment footage for Number 26 was here.’
Looking at the marine life samples, they ranged from bottom-feeders like bubble amoeba up to deadly types like Pale Masks and Dreadhydras.
It’s obvious the goal must have been to create an aquatic-specialized Screamer.
‘The real question is, why make a Screamer like that…?’
In a spacefaring game, being good at underwater activities isn’t much of an advantage. If you need to explore the ocean, using a submersible or advanced mechanical equipment is much cheaper and more efficient.
‘Is there some other intention I’m unaware of?’
To answer that, I’ll need to check the experimental records PS-111 and Isabel are reviewing.
‘Well, whatever their goal was, I’ve ended up with a lot of useful traits because of it.’
I checked the textbox.
｢④ Special Defense: Resistance, Disease Immunity, Complete Immunity, Psychic Defense, Stealth Maneuvering (Limited), Gamma Ray Resistance, Hell’s Mirage, Aquatic Adaptation (Limited), Corrosion Shelter (New!), Bio-Mirror (New!) (Limited)
-Special Defense Fusion Traits: Camouflage, Refractive Carapace (Limited), Fortification, Feedback (New!), Accelerated Cognition (New!)
...
⑨ Warp Related: Warp Sensitivity (New!), Blink Bomb (New!)｣
Starting with the “type” category, I’d made significant progress.
Most notably, the special defense enhancement type that had been stuck for so long was now almost complete. With just one more trait, I’d be able to fully unlock a new type.
‘A bit disappointing I didn’t finish it this time…’
Of the new special defense traits acquired here, two were especially notable:
‘Corrosion Shelter and Feedback. I used both quite a bit in the game.’
First, Corrosion Shelter is a countermeasure trait specifically for Vortex Ones. There are certain Vortex Ones you simply must have this trait to fight it’s so essential, you can’t even engage them without it.
But against enemies other than Vortex Ones, it has no effect at all. Still, I intend to hunt them eventually, so it’s worth obtaining in advance.
‘Getting Feedback is also a plus.’
It’s a fusion trait made from the pre-existing ‘Pain Reduction’.
Feedback activates under the same conditions as Pain Reduction when I take massive damage in a short time. When active, it allows me to ignore damage from enemy attacks for a set duration. Unless it’s a fatal, single-strike attack, my HP doesn’t decrease at all.
‘To be precise, the damage gets deferred and delivered in a burst later.’
Once Feedback ends, all the accumulated damage during its effect gets applied in several waves, though the total damage is reduced to around two-thirds of what it would have been.
‘It’s a useful trait, if I can manage the timing well.’
Moreover, here I can feel the pain vividly. Being able to ignore pain at a critical moment and keep fighting is hugely beneficial.
Corrosion Shelter and Feedback these two can certainly be considered valuable traits. On the other hand, ‘Bio-Mirror’ and ‘Accelerated Cognition’ are, honestly, almost useless. Bio-Mirror performs poorly and is further limited by the ‘Warped Abomination’ trait. Accelerated Cognition doesn’t even suit Amorph, since it already has superb auxiliary organs.
‘I should just treat these as padding for my trait count.’
With special defense almost completed, I’ve now unlocked information about a brand-new type:
The Warp Enhancement type.
‘I never thought I’d get this here.’
As its name suggests, traits in this type are closely tied to the silver raiders who roam the cosmos. When you hunt higher-tier Metallic Gremlins, you can acquire Warp-type traits.
Judging by the conditions, it seems easy, but it’s not. Even in large packs, higher-tier Metallic Gremlins are extremely rare. Actually acquiring this type is no small feat.
‘Now that I think about it, Jason once killed a Metallic Gremlin Ranker, didn’t he?’
I suspect that the samples kept here might be trophies harvested from Ranker hunts.
‘Well, that’s at least one weight off my mind.’
Warp-type traits are typically highly useful. Since they relate to faster-than-light travel, they help out in all sorts of situations.
Take ‘Warp Sensitivity’ as an example. It serves much like a warpship’s warp finder, making it easy to track ships traveling at superluminal speeds.
‘It also comes with a bonus: my body color shifts.’
Now, the secondary organs beneath my jaws and at the end of my snout are shaded silver, due to the active Warp Sensitivity.
In-game, it was a great special effect, contrasting with Amorph’s dark carapace. But right now, thanks to ‘Sinister Mimic’, my entire body has turned white so unless you look closely, the effect is nearly invisible.
Next up is ‘Blink Bomb’ , a trait that doesn’t show any external change.
‘More precisely, the change is internal.’
Now, inside my throat, branching in three directions, is a new organ resembling a pouch. If I consume hard, metal-like substances, part of them is stored inside these pouches. They’re then expelled outside when needed.
It’s the same mechanism as a standard breath weapon, but Blink Bomb has a crucial difference:
It’s fired in short, pseudo-superluminal jumps. The stored metals are dispersed in an instant from the throat-pouches the moment the nervous system issues the command.
‘If only I could aim them more precisely.’
With Blink Bomb, the projectiles erupt randomly within my perceptual range. Once used, all stored metal is expended and has to be replenished. To actually damage a target, you have to worry about variables like distance and aim.
In short, it’s like a low-tier version of the powerful ‘Star Coordinates’ trait.
‘Still, better to have it than not.’
That concludes the new warp-related traits.
Between special defense, warp, and more, I’ve obtained a lot of new traits and now the textbox is even more convoluted because of it.
Most samples I ate here came from rare, exotic creatures not easily found elsewhere. Thanks to that, some unique trait synthesis recipes have opened up that I never imagined possible.
｢‘Transcendence’ Ingredient List: Inorganic Digestion, Reaper’s Maw, Bone Beast, Infernal Illusions, Ultra Control｣
｢‘Transcendence’ Ingredient List (New!): Parasitic Humanoid Host, Hive Parasite, Predatory Nest, Zombie Fly, Horror Stalker｣
The unique traits made with the transcendence system always need a specific mix of ingredients. I’m always anxious about what I might get, but this time there’s less uncertainty.
‘Is this a unique trait related to summons?’
Each required trait for the newly unlocked recipe is a different type, but they all have something in common
They’re all fusion traits that create and control minions from inside my body, a summoning ability, put simply.
For a lone survivor like Amorph, summoning is at best a supplemental strategy; it’s hard to use solo, and usually it just supports main traits.
But a unique trait is another matter. Every transcendent trait I’ve created so far has had fearsome performance. If I could get a unique summoning trait, it’d be a huge help.
‘The only problem is the materials…’
Some of the ingredients required are traits I use all the time, such as ‘Parasitic Faceworm Host’ and ‘Hive Parasite’. It’s risky to use up traits I rely on.
‘…Sure, I can reacquire most traits, but there’s a real issue.’
Namely: if the gene information stored in the Parasitic Faceworm Host disappears, I might lose it forever.
Every Ranker I’ve ever devoured resides inside me as a parasite; I’ve often exploited the info they retained while fighting the Domination Faction and the Returnees.
‘If I lose the trait, I lose that method of extracting info.’
Unless the new trait replicates the gene storage function of Parasitic Faceworm Host.
Of course, there’s a chance the function will carry over.
From the transcendent traits I’ve synthesized before, the new unique trait will sometimes inherit functions of the materials. If that happens, I’ll probably retain the gene library too.
‘Though honestly, that’s probably just wishful thinking.’
This world has betrayed my expectations before, sometimes the resulting trait turns out to have nothing to do with summons at all. The odds are about fifty-fifty that it’ll turn out as I hope.
‘Just like that previous recipe I unlocked the dilemma repeats.’
The last one, ‘Reaper’s Maw’, is still unsynthesized because I haven’t replenished its materials.
This case is similar; it's not easy to just use up rare traits for synthesis.
‘…But I can’t keep putting things off forever.’
I currently have a total of ten unique space monster traits. Completing two more means reaching twelve, which would advance my type to tier three. The rewards from such an advancement far outweigh any potential loss.
‘And really, there’s no better time for synthesis than now.’
This star system will soon face another Outspacer invasion. The Fourth Seat doesn’t know I’m at NEO-3, so the invaders are likely to include creatures or queens made with rare genes.
That makes this a perfect window to synthesize a new unique trait, and then, if I lose any by doing so, simply devour the Outspacer army to reclaim them.
In fact, that was my entire reason for coming to NEO-3 in the first place.
What’s the most optimal course of action?
After considerable deliberation, I made my decision.
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[Translator – Seraph]
[Proofreader – Draxx]
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