I Became an Evolving Space Monster - Chapter 401

–

In a tank filled with a specially treated chemical solution, Akira glared at his archenemy whom he had not seen in a long time.

The last time I met Beom-ho was already decades ago.

The other person was very different from what he remembered. It’s not just that they’ve gotten older, but the race itself has changed. This is because the young cult man is now a middle-aged researcher.

However, Akira quickly accepted his changes. Considering the perks that Beomho had, it wasn’t particularly surprising.

“Why are you here? Could it be that you were targeting Amorph too?”

As far as he knew, Beomho was the ranker who targeted Amov the hardest in the game. In the community, there were many people who saw Beomho and Amorph as destined rivals.

It is a meaningless assumption because it is unlikely, but if Beomho and Akira had cooperated in this operation, they would have been able to kill Aimov.

However, Beomho’s answer was different from Akira’s expectations.

“The Empress thought so too, but she was wrong. I’m not here because of Eimoff. “It’s to prevent you and him from fighting.”
“What?”
“To be exact, that guy shouldn’t die yet.”

When Akira heard those words, a memory came to mind.

The plan I heard from him in the past, before my relationship with Beom-ho fell out.

“Foolish. That plan is impossible.
“Nothing is impossible before human will.”
“It’s absurd to say such a thing from your own mouth.”
“I’m disappointed that you’re reacting like this when you saved my life in such a difficult way. “If Gigacracker hadn’t come here, you would have been killed by him, right?”

Hearing Beomho’s words, Akira clenched his teeth that had just begun to grow.

The person who called Giga Cracker was not a traitor, but Beom-ho.

Of course, this does not mean that there are no traitors within the ruling faction. I don’t know when Beom-ho infiltrated Megacorp, but there was definitely someone who helped him.

To find out, you have to catch that man outside the tank.

“Is that the end of what you have to say?”

Akira has a secret weapon that he can use even when his body is weakened like it is now. The conditions for use were strict, so I couldn’t use it when fighting Aimorph, but not now. With this ability, it is also possible to capture a tiger.

Deciding to overpower his opponent, he increased his power and the liquid in the tank began to shake.

“The plan went awry because of you. “You have to pay the price.”
“It’s so messed up. Even in games, I lost every time. “You can’t win against that guy.”

Akira paused when he saw the other person’s still calm appearance.

Akira is well aware of Beomho’s abilities as they have worked together in the past. This also applies to tigers. There’s no way he doesn’t know how difficult Akira is.

However, the reason he shows this attitude is obviously because he is confident.

“Do you think I can’t kill you?”
“Well, you could tear me to death even in that condition.”
“Are you provoking me even though you know that?”

In front of the shaking tank, Beomho calmly raised his arms. His hand touched the glass wall of the tank.

“You always have that problem. Do you know why you can’t beat him?”
｢What?｣
“You have a lot of things, but your imagination is so poor.”

As soon as those words were finished, Beomho’s eyes began to glow purple. The purple light that was in his eyes slowly moved down his face and onto his shoulders as if he had an ego.

Akira was shocked, knowing what that meant.

｢プレーヤーにもできるだと?くそ虎!僕をだましたんだな! (You can do this to players too? Kusotora! You fooled me!)
”

Akira saw the light that had passed through his arm and reached his hand seeping into the glass wall, so he urgently activated his ability.

The target is not the tiger, but yourself. The liquid surrounding his body froze as if it had been rapidly cooled. The monitor connected to the tank and the lights illuminating the room blinked uneasily.

But the purple light was slightly faster than that. The light reached Akira’s body before the liquid completely solidified. Then a purple line appeared between Akira and Beomho.

“Is it environmental change and the formation of a stationary field? “It’s been a while since I last saw you.”

Beomho withdrew his hand as he looked at the tank, which was greatly damaged by the hardened liquid.

“It will take some time to settle in, but I expected this. “I’ve prepared everything, so it’ll be okay.”

Since the ‘ability’ has been applied, Akira’s ‘body’ is no different from being in his hands. Beomho smiled as he saw the thread becoming transparent.

“Don’t worry. “I will leave when the time comes.”

When the thread completely disappeared, Beom-ho’s body collapsed onto the white floor like a doll whose thread had been cut.

A few minutes later, he woke up again.

“Ugh, the head….”

He was rubbing his temples and groaning, and he looked somewhat dazed compared to before he collapsed.

He slowly got up from his seat and looked at the tank in front of him.

“Why am I here…huh? “Huh?”

His complexion, which was looking at the tank with a blank expression, instantly turned white. He reached for the monitor in an urgent manner.

“Why did this suddenly become like this? Who would do something like this…damn it!”

After seeing the monitor that was not working, he hurried out of the room.

A white room filled with silence.

A purple light flashed and disappeared inside the damaged tank in the room.

–

[Zuzzuzu zuzu zuzu (There is no enemy chasing you, right?)]
｢Yes. “Bad metal won’t follow you.”

Number 26 answered my question by waving its silver tentacles.

I checked it last because the enemy could follow me even if it’s too late. Fortunately, the enemy did not send a pursuit party, perhaps thinking of targeting Daum.

‘It’s been about an hour, so let’s move on.’

The effects of the contaminated genes consumed by eating Akira’s subordinates have long since ended. Thanks to this, recovery characteristics returned to normal.

‘I’m worried about Aadhai too.’

Seeing that the symbiotic spores planted in it are still alive, it is clear that it is alive. However, it is difficult to determine exactly what state it is in because the distance is too far.

‘Wait a minute, before I go….’

There is something I need to check.

I looked down at Akira’s head, which he was holding in his small arms against his chest.

It was fine until an hour ago, but now it wasn’t that good. It was noticeable that the hard-growing head carapace, resembling Aimorph’s, had become mushy.

[Zuzuz, zuzuzu, zuzuzu, zuzu (You said there are no contaminated genes, right?)]
｢Yes. From what I can see, yes.”

Isabelle, who received the request, said that she had checked with Manjang’s Cheonan several times, but that no contaminated genes were found.

The abnormal rate of decomposition of the head seems to be Akira’s special feature, that is, a characteristic of the fake body itself.

‘After all, I have to eat before it’s too late.’

Originally, I planned to wait until I could use the symbol of hunting. However, the condition of my head is rapidly deteriorating. You have to eat it before it gets damaged further.

‘There is no guarantee that you can obtain the genetic essence anyway.’

What I’m holding is not Akira’s real body, but just a part of his fake body. The predation effect may not be effective when consumed.

‘It would be really disappointing if there was no compensation.’

I threw Akira’s head into my mouth, hoping to get something.

When the teeth collided with the hard carapace, a short, strong cracking sound was heard, like chewing candy. The contents inside flowed down my tongue and down my throat. And the sweet and intense aroma, as if chocolate, caramel, and butter melted together in a hot frying pan, spread throughout my mouth.

‘Well, it definitely tastes good….’

Just when I was trying to savor the taste and aroma that spread in an instant.

A translucent text box suddenly appeared in front of me.

“Predation effect activated! Successfully acquired the ‘Hiveformer’ genetic essence.｣
｢Takeover ‘Hiveformer’ among the biological characteristics of ‘Akira Eugene’.｣
｢Do you want to apply ‘Hiveformer’?｣

I almost screamed when I checked the contents of the text box.

‘Hiveformer?’

Hiveformer is a general trait related to nests, and is a very good trait for races that can set up nests. It is evaluated as a semi-essential trait for outspacers who are highly dependent on the nest.

However, this characteristic is very difficult to obtain. This is because creatures with the characteristic are very rare.

‘I thought we’d only see this when we attacked the solar system.’

I never expected that I would get it through Akira’s head here.

“Big baby, smile! I guess it feels good because it’s delicious!”
“I think it’s for a reason other than the taste.”

Next to me, No. 26 and Isabel look at me and talk. I guess I was smiling and showing my teeth without realizing it.

I tried to calm my heart and looked at the text box again.

‘The predation effect only appeared once, but this is a pretty good result.’

Hiveformer itself is a good trait, but what’s even better is that this trait is one of the materials needed to create a unique trait.

｢’Transcendence’ material list: Demon Machine, Tyrantroid, Destroyer Carapace, Ether Core (not obtained), Hiveformer (not obtained)｣

The only trait that requires traits that can be obtained from Apex creatures. There are currently two ingredients left here.

Once you obtain the Hiveformer, all that is left is the ‘Ether Core’.

‘Let’s apply it first.’

I accepted the textbox’s request.

The special genetic essence that comes from outside spreads throughout the body. The carapace that protects my organs, bones, muscles, and flesh begins to crack.

Eventually, the muscle fibers inside protruded outward through the cracks in the broken carapace and torn off scales. What looked like fur at first grew longer and longer as they became entangled with each other. The same thing happened all over the body except for the arms, legs, torso, head, neck, and wings.

In a human being, it was as if all the muscles below the shoulders had torn the flesh, but there was no particular pain.

The muscle fibers that protruded from the outside gradually became larger and longer, taking on a shape similar to tentacles. Just like what No. 26 showed when fighting the fleet, large and small tentacles grew all over its body.

‘Are you okay?’

I’ve seen Amorph with the Hiveformer applied many times in games, but this is the first time I’ve seen it in real life. I quite liked the huge body covered with a bunch of small tentacles resembling plant stems, as it resembled the plant monsters I had seen in monster movies before.

“and!”

While inspecting the body with the new characteristics applied, I felt a short, intense wave next to me. It was a wave sent by No. 26 upon seeing me who had completed my transformation.

“pretty! pretty!”

The guy kept circling around me, letting out waves of admiration. I seemed to really like the sight of myself with a bundle of tentacles wrapped around my body.

｢Big baby is pretty!｣
[Zuzuzu (thank you)]
｢That, yes, is pretty? “I guess it’s strange.”

I’m glad that not only I like it, but also No. 26. It took out its pink fin and tapped my tentacle.

“My eldest baby is different from me, but we are similar! So I like it!”
[Z(Really?)]
“Yes. It’s so soft and pretty.”

It’s just as he said. The pile of tentacles on my body has a different purpose and appearance from the Sea Demon’s tentacles.

Unlike the Sea Demon’s tentacles, which have saw blades on the inside, this one doesn’t have those at all. Finely split carapace covers the surface, making it superficially similar to the body of a snake or a plant stem.

And my pile of tentacles can’t express complex emotions like No. 26 can. Since the muscle fibers are tentacles, detailed control like when moving other body parts is not possible.

‘Because the purpose was different in the first place.’

These tentacles created by hiveformers can do more than you can imagine. There is no need to be disappointed if you cannot use it for offense.

Anyway, the transformation was completed with this. I spread my folded wings again.

[Zuzu zuzuzuzu (Should we go back now)]
｢Yes!｣
｢Seo-ah, if you look at me, I’ll faint.’

Adhai, Mother of Heaven, PS-111. Everyone is waiting for me.

It’s time to return to the dragon’s lair.

“Watch next episode”