Chapter 2413 - ESM 80

"Jacob, this is Blair. "We secured a total of 17 survivors."

The captain's cabin has a stiff atmosphere without any decorations.

Blair, the special rescue team leader, was reporting to his superiors over the communicator.

"There are 7 people in Third Capital and 10 in Middle Capital, and they are currently being inspected. yes. yes. As soon as it's over, we'll start the interrogation right away. yep! Loyalty!"

After saluting and ending communication, he immediately contacted the ship quarantine team.

"How long was the inspection?"

｢Two people have completed it so far, and one is currently in progress.｣

"What?"

"The inspection is being delayed due to strong opposition from third-party capitals."

"Tsk, force it even if it means using force." "It doesn't matter if you get injured."

"yes? Well, if you do that…"

"I will take full responsibility. "Please complete the power test within today."

"yep!"

Afterwards, he gave a few orders to his subordinates and concluded the communication.

Unlike the silence of the captain's office, his mind was busy.

In the name of streamlining management, the current interim head of the state is halting several projects led by the former head of the state and eliminating related organizations.

Egerton's old faction is the result of those who were targeted for liquidation in this way. And the group to which Blair belongs, the Order of the Silver Lion, is the core force supporting the old power.

In the past, they were deeply involved in the new Hulk mutant project secretly led by Denver Edgerton. They were also responsible for managing the slush fund that Denver had prepared to proceed with the project.

If it weren't for that, the old power wouldn't have been able to grow as big as it is now.

However, the current structure is not always satisfactory.

Since Denver is already dead, it is the temporary family's side that will gain the advantage as time passes. Right now, their power is large enough to pressure and keep the temporary head of the family in check, but this is not enough. If the slush fund runs out, that's the end.

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The old powers needed a new breakthrough.

In that situation, the outspacer problem arose.

The damage suffered by the family due to the great air raid was considerable, but it was different from the Silver Lion Knights' perspective.

This was an opportunity to turn the situation around.

It is rare to encounter outspacers in Megacorp. Edgerton also does not have much accumulated information. As a result, it was difficult to develop weapons for use against outspacers.

Here, the leadership of the Knights planned to quickly secure information related to Outspacer and take the lead in ship development.

Rescue of survivors is also part of this information gathering. There is no resource more useful for weapon development than the experience of those who were defeated.

'If this goes well…'

Knight Commander Jacob promised a huge reward to anyone who gathered a lot of quality information. An enormous amount of money that Blair had never dreamed of in his life.

'The reward is mine. 'I won't hand it over to anyone.'

If you want to get rich, you have to be busier than you are now.

He resumed work with a smile on his face.

–

"Hey, are you done?"

"What's the end? Damn Third Capital bastards."

"Third Capital?"

A quarantine team member who was taking a break in front of the examination room sighed in response to another teammate's question.

"okay. Why do these idiots with no sense of self have such high self-esteem? Even if you threaten them with a gun, they won't listen."

"What a hardship. "Drink one of these."

The quarantine team member drank the energy drink given to him by his colleague.

"I'm thinking of having a drink with the kids later, how about it?"

"Whether I go or not only after work is over."

"How much is left?"

"The third capital is finished, and there are 10 middle capitals left."

"Tsk, call me when you're done."

The quarantine team member separated from his colleague and entered the examination room.

The interior of the examination room was so clean that it reminded me of an operating room, and there were various cutting-edge medical devices everywhere. The quarantine team member's job is to utilize all of these devices to check the physical condition of the survivors.

Outspacer Queen, who led this attack, uses spies. They inject parasites into humans or cults to steal enemy information.

The Knights of the Silver Lion, who heard about this as spies dispatched to the cult empire, remodeled the medical room on the rescue ship to create an examination room. This is to test for parasites and, if found, extract them and study them.

Of course, this is the position of the upper echelons of the Knights Templar. Survivors could not help but be embarrassed by the suddenly complicated testing procedures.

"shit! How long on earth do we have to wait?"

"Let me out quickly!"

"Why do we have to be treated like this!"

People naked and wearing only white gowns were locked in the isolation rooms located inside the examination room. Everyone was out of their minds after being locked in a small isolation room for several hours.

"Next is number 8. "Please come out."

The 10 survivors took offense at the quarantine team member's attitude of notifying them as if they were bothered.

"Do not be ridiculous! Do you know who I am?"

"What kind of capital are you?" "Don't you know that I know someone on Mars?"

"…Whew."

The quarantine team member did not respond but operated the terminal. Then, a strong stream of cold disinfectant gas erupted from the floor of the isolation room. Survivors in each isolation room were constantly coughing or hunched over and shaking.

｢Aaaah?!｣

｢Ugh! "Stop it!"

"If you want to end it quickly, shut up and stay still. Do you understand?"

"Yes, yes! I understand, so please stop…!"

The quarantine team members who forcibly silenced the survivors continued the examination.

Several hours passed like that.

A time when more people on the ship were asleep than awake. After completing the test, all people were moved to temporary accommodation, and only two people remained in the quarantine room.

"Next…is number 16?"

The long inspection has come to an end. The quarantine team member whetted his appetite at the thought of drinking alcohol with his colleagues.

"Wait!"

At that time, man number 16 called him.

"yes. "You can come out number 16."

"That's not what I'm saying…"

I thought he was trying to protest without coming to his senses again. The quarantine team member who was trying to tell him to shut up and come out was startled when he saw the other person's face.

A complexion that went from pale to pure white, unfocused eyes, and excessive sweating. Anyone could see that it was not normal.

"No, what's wrong with your face?"

"It's not me, but the person I'm with is strange."

"The person I'm with?"

The survivor nodded and pointed to woman number 17 in another isolation room. Because he was crouching down, his face could not be seen.

"That woman is strange?"

"yes. "He's been doing that ever since he was hit with disinfectant gas earlier."

After listening to it, it was definitely true. That woman had been in that position since a while ago, not moving.

It is virtually impossible for an ordinary person to remain motionless in a small isolation room for several hours.

"Besides that, was there anything else strange?"

"I saw something that looked like an earthworm wriggling in that woman's ear."

"An earthworm? Are you sure?"

"yes. As soon as he made eye contact with me, he quickly hid inside. "I saw it clearly."

Survivor number 16 may have been mistaken, but it was true that the woman's behavior was suspicious. The quarantine team member walked to the front of the isolation room where survivor number 17 was located.

"Hey, number 17. come out."

｢….｣

No reaction. The quarantine team member operated the terminal. Cold disinfectant gas hit survivor number 17. The woman who was crouching quickly got up.

The moment I saw her face, my doubts became confirmed. Even though his body was freezing, he had a completely expressionless expression. It had a mechanical appearance, as if it was moving under someone's command.

"shit! "Don't move!"

The quarantine team member quickly pulled out a Gauss rifle. I tried to contact other colleagues while aiming at the opponent behind the transparent wall.

｢Kyaaagh!｣

At that moment, the woman screamed and hit the wall with her head. Blood and flesh splattered on the wall, but she didn't stop.

"This is the quarantine team…huh?!"

The ship's isolation room was designed to be very sturdy for its intended purpose. Unless it is opened from the outside, bare-chested humans cannot get out.

"Kyaaa!"

It was obviously like that, but suddenly the door to the isolation room opened. A woman with a bloody face jumped out and attacked the quarantine team member.

"Keuok?"

A member of the isolation team, pushed by strength, lost his balance and fell backwards. The woman tried to bite his face, baring her blood-soaked teeth.

"Kek?!"

If the quarantine team member hadn't hit the woman with a Gauss rifle, she would have died a long time ago.

The quarantine team member rolled to the side and escaped while the woman was staggering around after being hit on the head.

And then he fired his rifle.

"Eat this!"

"Kyaak!"

The muzzle spewed fire, and a barrage of deadly tungsten bullets tore into the enemy's abdomen.

Charred flesh and broken bones are flying. The woman, whose waist was half blown off, fell to the ground.

The quarantine team member stood up, breathing heavily.

"Lord, are you dead?"

As soon as she finished speaking, the woman's head moved. The mouth opened wide enough to tear open, and a black creature that looked like a corpse catfish crawled out of it.

"…It looks disgusting."

Judging by its disgusting appearance, it was clearly an Outspacer parasite.

As I was trying to catch him with the capture frame I had prepared in advance, other people who heard the gunshot ran into the examination room.

"I just heard a gunshot…what the hell!"

"Crazy, what is that?"

"It's coming quickly."

The quarantine team member briefly explained what he had experienced.

"So that's Outspacer's parasite?"

"They are as vicious as they look, manipulating people's minds."

"If you understand, now help me."

Quarantine team members and their colleagues worked together to capture the parasite and dispose of the woman's body.

Unlike when it was in a human body, the monster barely moved. The same was true even after it was transferred to the test tube.

"Please deliver these test tubes and the woman's blood sample to the research team."

"What about you?"

Instead of answering, the quarantine team member pointed to the isolation room with his finger. There was survivor number 16, trembling, with his body pressed against the wall.

"Do you by any chance need assistance?"

"There's only one person left anyway, so there's no need for that."

"Then we go."

After that, all the colleagues left, and only the two of them remained in the prosecutor's office.

"Okay, are you done?"

"Yes. "Now only you, the prosecutor, are left."

"Whew, I'm glad things worked out well."

The man must have been quite scared, and his complexion was still pale. He was sweating profusely and his condition looked very bad.

"We will be heading to our temporary accommodation soon, so please be patient."

"thank you."

If it weren't for that man, my life could have been in danger. The quarantine team members also knew this, so they treated the survivors in a gentler manner than before.

"Go in here and stand still."

"What is this machine?"

"It is a machine that examines the inside of the body. "You don't have to worry because you won't get sick or anything."

The man who came out of the isolation room followed the instructions of the quarantine team member and entered a small room-sized machine. The quarantine team member operated the machine outside.

"what? Why is this happening again?"

I operated it the same way as I had done so far, but the machine did not listen. Even when I pressed the terminal with my finger, it only made a short beep sound.

'Now that I think about it, the isolation room door suddenly opened a little while ago.'

"hey? What's wrong?"

Just as I was about to suspect a series of machine malfunctions, a voice came from inside the machine.

"Hmm, no. Please wait a moment."

"Uh, sparks are flying inside. Is this normal?"

"huh?"

Of course, this machine does not have such a function. The quarantine team member entered the machine.

"Where did the spark come from?"

"It's over there."

I looked at what the man said, but it was fine.

"There's nothing wrong here. Are you sure?"

"I definitely saw it, but it's strange."

"Let's go first and start with other prosecutors first…."

The quarantine team member turned his head and stopped when he saw something.

"Why are you doing that?"

"Your eyes…"

"Yes?"

The quarantine team member's gaze was aimed directly at the man's face.

This is because the position of the man's eyes was not normal. The eyes, which should be between the nose and forehead, were lowered near the chin.

"ah. "It's like this again."

A voice with a flat tone echoes inside the machine.

But the sound did not come from the man's mouth.

"Because it's time for a change."

With those words, the man's face split in two.

And then after a while.

A quarantine team member walked out of the machine.

He left the examination room with a pale complexion, unlike when he entered.

-x-X-x-

"What? "The soldiers are missing?"

Blair frowned at the report that came out of nowhere during the meeting.

The crisis management team leader who brought up the story cleared his throat once and continued talking.

"Hmm, yes. "The whereabouts of one person from the quarantine team, one person from the supply management team, and one of the rescued survivors are unknown."

"How long has it been?"

"It is estimated that the quarantine team member and the survivor went missing about 10 hours ago, and the supply management team member went missing about 8 hours ago."

After hearing those words, Blair's eyes focused on the quarantine team leader and the supply management team leader.

"Is what the crisis management team leader said true?"

"Uh, that's…"

"It hasn't even been a day, so it's a bit too much to call her missing…""

"Pathetic bastards!"

An enraged Blair screamed and slammed the desk.

All personnel on board this ship must report their work status to their team's superiors every six hours. However, if you look at the time the missing people disappeared, it was well over 6 hours.

"You act so carelessly even after knowing that Outspacer deals with parasites!"

"S-sorry!"

In fact, a live parasite emerged from one of the survivors they rescued. This is a situation where we need to remain vigilant more than ever, but I never thought I would make such a mistake.

"From now on, both of them will be stripped of their team leader positions, and those who were previously deputy team leaders will take over. "Do you understand?"

"Yep…."

"Crisis management team leader. "Do you also have profiles of missing people?"

"I'll launch it now."

When the crisis management team leader operated his personal terminal, a hologram appeared in the middle of the desk in the conference room. It was a hologram containing information about a missing person.

While looking through the material, something unusual caught Blair's eye.

"That quarantine team member, he was the first to discover the Outspacer parasite. And the last task was to examine survivors."

"Yes. That's right."

"Survivors who went missing during inspection, and quarantine team members who also went missing. "I guess it means that the parasites hiding in the survivors have moved on."

"Does that mean there are two parasites?"

Blair nodded with a serious expression.

"Shall we search the supply management team members?"

"No. It's already late. "He must have changed into a different body."

Everyone in the conference room opened their eyes wide.

If that is true, it is not normal. There may be someone here with parasites as well.

"From now on, we will investigate all personnel on the ship. Navigation team leader, stop faster-than-light navigation and move to high-speed navigation mode until the investigation is completed."

"Oh, I understand!"

"I will designate the order of the team and targets in charge of the investigation and inform them individually. This is to prevent information leakage. Do you understand?"

"yep!"

"Is the communications support team next?"

"yes. Hmm, it is presumed that the reason the current communication system is unstable is due to abnormal star activity…"

After that, the meeting ended after discussing a few more issues.

"Well, now that I think about it, the assistant team leader has been acting suspiciously lately. Is this true?"

"We need to gather the team members right away and check…."

The team leaders all left the conference room with dark expressions on their faces.

Blair, who was left alone, glared at the hologram with cold eyes.

'Damn monsters. 'Don't think everything will go your way.'

Not many people know him, but he has survived the disaster of the T&C Special Trade Center in the past. Compared to that terrible memory, Outspacer parasites are nothing.

He won't be able to last long and will be caught soon.

With that confidence in mind, he ended the hologram.

–

｢Joel's Personal Record #26｣

* Joel, a second-year member of the Edgerton Silver Lion Knights and a member of the maintenance team under the Edgerton Special Rescue Team, leaves this record.

In the morning, the team leader summoned all team members.

The team leader spoke at the gathering where everyone was gathered.

Currently, Norris from the quarantine team and Peter from the supply management team are missing. If you see them, report them immediately.

He went missing on a ship that was in full operation. I couldn't believe it.

It wasn't just me. The other guys also looked like they were talking nonsense.

I don't know anything else, but Norris can't do that.

Yesterday, I invited him to have a drink with me, but he said he couldn't go because he had work to do. Norris is the most conscientious person I know. There's no way a guy like that would disappear for no reason.

Moreover, even if he went missing, where would he go on an isolated ship?

It is clear that he was unable to report his work status because he was sleeping overtime the previous day. You might be stuck in a corner where people don't know and sleeping like crazy.

Myles from the same team also agreed with me.

While having dinner with the communications support team, I heard that there was a problem with the ship's current communications system. They say it's because of the waves emitted from the star, so I don't think you need to worry.

｢Record saved｣

(edited)

It's past 11 p.m., and there's no contact from Norris.

I will have to visit the quarantine team tomorrow.

｢Revised record saved｣

–

｢Joel's Personal Record #27｣

Before lunch, the team leader suddenly summoned the entire maintenance team.

I thought I had found Norris, but no.

The team leader informed me to go to the lab as my schedule had changed and I needed to undergo a physical examination.

We protested, but the team leader was also stubborn. He made nonsense of the fact that anyone who refuses to be tested will be summarily punished, regardless of the reason.

Thanks to this, I couldn't even eat lunch and was taken to the research team for an examination.

That alone was a shitty experience, and I heard some shitty stories there.

Miles said the reason we were being tested was because of a new type of outspacer.

I heard from someone on the research team that an outspacer with the ability to live as a parasite on the human body was hiding among the survivors and moved to our ship. Are you saying the tests we took were also designed to detect this?

This is nonsense. Why would you bugs target this ship?

And I know this because I fought against Outspacers, and those monsters only move based on their instinct to kill. It is not intelligent enough to hide in a human body.

However, there were some points that Miles pointed out that made sense. I don't know why the research team, rather than the medical team, is in charge of the tests.

I asked questions to the research team, but no one answered. After the test, I asked the team leader, but that guy just told me not to worry about it since it was a test that all other teams were taking as well.

Fuck, that's what I said. Third character without a love (deleted)

｢Record saved｣

–

｢Joel's Personal Record #28｣

Norris, who had gone missing, has been found.

The location is inside the supply management team's residential water storage facility. Palmer, who also went missing, was there.

Fuck. Some of my team members said that the water tasted strange in the morning, so I wondered why they were giving a damn, but I had no idea it was because there was a corpse.

Moreover, according to what came in from there, the condition of the body that was found was very strange.

This is because only skin was found, with no contents such as flesh, bones, or internal organs. I heard that even though the storage tank was completely emptied to send the contaminated water to a water purification facility, nothing came out.

After the news spread, the atmosphere within the team was shattered. In particular, the cubs whose lodgings were close to storage room 3 did not make a fuss about vomiting.

Anyway, in relation to this, there was a broadcast from Blair on board in the evening. The message was that the crisis management team is currently investigating surveillance cameras and the supply management team, so rest assured.

If it were any other time, I would have calmed down after hearing that, but I couldn't this time.

Human skin found in the water. It is very ominous to actually experience a situation similar to the ghost story commonly circulated among sailors. It seems like something terrible is happening somewhere I don't know.

I'm not the only one who thinks so. Everyone is equally anxious.

I hope there will be only good news from tomorrow.

｢Record saved｣

–

｢Joel's Personal Record #29｣

When I came to work in the morning, there weren't many people there.

Perhaps because of yesterday's work, everyone took sick leave.

If it were any other time, the bastard team leader would have been terrible, but not like today. Because the cub also rested.

The team leader didn't come out, so we spent some time chatting.

And after a long time, I heard some good news.

The crisis management team found out who put the body in the drinking water storage facility.

The culprit was the newly appointed head of the supply management team. It is said that he was caught on camera carrying a corpse with only the skin remaining and putting it into a storage room.

When the identity of the nightmarish ghost story was revealed, I was honestly relieved and relaxed.

The Outspacer parasites, the space monsters that skin people, it was all nonsense. The truth was that it was nothing more than a crime committed by an insane killer.

Miles still insisted that it was because he was infected by the Outspacer. The basis for receiving the award was that his personality changed after becoming a team leader.

This is an absurd claim. If you think about it that way, I've been depressed for the past few days. Is it because I'm under the control of Outspacer?

Anyway, now that the culprit has been revealed, it is only a matter of time before he is caught.

Soon everything will be back to normal.

｢Record saved｣

–

｢Joel's Personal Record #30｣

I heard new news through the ship's broadcast this morning. It is said that the killer was killed in the early morning.

The problem was solved with this.

Colleagues who were on sick leave did not show up today, but everyone will return to normal by tomorrow. Of course, it would be nice if that bastard team leader didn't continue like this.

In the evening, I had a drink with my teammates.

This time, Miles also raised conspiracy theories, such as saying that it was suspicious that the criminal had to be killed and whether there was a mole in the crisis management team.

It is true that the crisis management team handled it a bit excessively, but it is not something that is particularly incomprehensible.

The supply management team leader was a member of the Knights of the Silver Lion and underwent genetic modification surgery. It is impossible to subdue it by shooting one or two laser guns.

If we had responded sloppily, the crisis management team would have suffered greater damage.

I tried to explain it logically, but Miles, this idiot, didn't listen. What a consistent bastard.

However, this time, there were quite a few kids who agreed with Miles' opinion. Even though he wasn't very drunk, he openly cursed at the crisis management team.

Even if the team leader is not present, it is not common to criticize another team in front of others. I think it's because I'm anxious because of various recent events.

Anyway, we drank in moderation and parted ways.

On the way to my dorm, I saw the team leader on sick leave. I was standing in front of the medical room with my body wet, probably after washing up.

From the looks of it, it seemed like he was out looking for medicine. Because it would be a pain if I encountered it, I deliberately took a detour and came back.

｢Record saved｣

(edited)

A scream is heard outside.

I don't know what's going on. I have to get out quickly

｢Record time limit exceeded｣

｢Modified records automatically saved｣

–

｢Joel's Personal Record #33｣

I haven't had much free time these past few days, so I haven't been able to leave a record.

After barely suppressing the sudden outbreak of a mutiny on board, an unidentified epidemic broke out.

Some people died with blood pouring out from all over their bodies, while others died with black spots all over their bodies. Those who touched the patient's body also died from a disease they had never seen before.

Although the symptoms were different, they had one thing in common. Once you catch it, you die.

If there had been a medical room left, treatment might have been possible somehow. However, all facilities to treat diseases were caught up in the rebellion and burned down. The only medicine is a small amount of treatment mounted on the reinforced suit.

People die every day. Even people who are not sick do not know when they will die.

Even when trying to request external support, the ship's communication system stopped working. The communications support team is said to be repairing the problem, but the results cannot be guaranteed.

In other words, we are all dying in isolation.

That fact drives me crazy.

It's not just me. Even among the same team members, the way they look at each other is very harsh.

We have reached our limit.

｢Record saved｣

(edited)

I was attacked by a colleague who tried to rob me of the cure.

I barely survived, but I don't think I can rest in the dorm any longer.

｢Record saved｣

–

｢Joel's Personal Record #36｣

Luckily, I was able to return to my accommodation.

Miles has said this before. Outspacer parasites have infiltrated the ship.

That is wrong. It's not bugs that have taken over the ship.

It is something endlessly malevolent.

Due to the chaos covered in human skin, the entire ship became a moving hell.

There are no ordinary humans here. Wherever you go, unidentifiable monsters and humans succumbing to madness and chaos are watching.

There are still survivors like me, but it means nothing. Neither they nor I have long left to die.

Miles calls from outside the door.

He was attacked by a monster while coming here with me. The being who is already dead is urging me to come out.

I don't want to die.

｢Record saved｣

(edited)

There are no problems with the operation of the ship.

Blair's group, which disrupted normal navigation, was successfully suppressed.

The ship is expected to reach its destination quickly under the leadership of its new captain.

I can't wait to meet my colleagues.

｢Record saved｣

This is the last session registered."

-x-X-x-

'It's been a while since I took over a ship like this.'

I sat down in the captain's chair and surveyed the bridge.

Normally, when I seize a ship, the interior ends up a total mess but not this time. Aside from the shattered barricade by the entrance, everything else looked intact. That was thanks to me sticking to my tried-and-true methods.

Namely, infiltrating the enemy in disguise and bringing them down from within.

Eleven days ago, I blended in with the survivors from the orbital colony and boarded Edgerton's rescue vessel. Then, shifting my appearance over time, I sowed chaos inside the ship.

The enemy tried their best to catch me but it was pointless. They didn't even know who they were fighting. No matter how hard they tried, it was all in vain.

While they wasted their time, I severed the ship's lifelines one by one.

I spread the 'Space Bacteria' through the drinking water and handed over control of the communications network to PS-111, which was tailing us from a distance. As a string of inexplicable malfunctions cropped up, anxiety began to fester among the crew.

I later found out that this wasn't just any rescue vessel, it was a warship belonging to Edgerton's Silver Lion Order. Most of the people onboard were genetically modified soldiers.

'Even better.'

That just meant they'd be more efficient at killing one another.

I nudged their growing anxiety toward each other.

Disguised as a team leader, I incited rebellion, implanting parasites in their heads to stir up conflict.

It didn't take long for this small, isolated community drifting in deep space to collapse. The soldiers turned their guns on each other and self-destructed.

"This new ability… I really do like it."

I looked down at my pale, ghastly hands.

No longer protected by smooth, tough carapace, these hands were covered by soft, human-like skin.

This wasn't an illusion created by my Mimicry Organ's pheromones. This was a real human hand.

It was one of the effects of my new transformation mode, 'Unknown Usurper', which came with the 'Warped Abomination' trait. I was currently wearing the form of one of the soldiers who had once been aboard this ship.

'Technically speaking, I was wearing that soldier's skin.'

I pinched the back of my hand with my fingers and pulled. The pale skin split with the faint sound of tearing stitches, revealing the scaly, true hand beneath it.

When the Unknown Usurper is activated, my body transforms into a being resembling the Amorph. My tail and carapace have degenerated, giving me a form that sits somewhere between Amorph and human.

Even the scales are white, which makes me look like the hybrid monster in the sequel to the classic film Xenomorph. Only I have more arms.

[PR/N: The xenomorph, a fictional extraterrestrial creature, is the central antagonist in the 'Alien' franchise.]

[PR/N: About time they point out the similarities between the amorph and alien movie.]

Excluding the two arms used to mimic a human's, the remaining four are folded neatly around my waist and abdomen. As long as they don't move, they just make me look like I've got a bit of a belly.

Unlike the movie monster, though, this form has nearly zero defensive capability. The carapace is practically gone, and the scales are thin. In fact, it's even weaker in combat than my previous form, 'Clever Weakling'.

'But the true value of this transformation lies elsewhere.'

As an Unknown Usurper, I gain access to two abilities: Skinwalker and House of Skin.

Skinwalker allows me to alter my body using stored genetic data and acquired organic material.

The organic material, in this case, refers to skin from humanoids like humans or wolves. True to the name 'Skinwalker', I wear the hide of an animal and pretend to be that creature.

Since my body physically transforms, I can evade camera systems easily. Even internal body temperature is maintained at human levels, allowing me to bypass heat sensors as well.

The second ability, House of Skin, extends the duration of the transformation granted by Unknown Usurper. Normally, the transformation should've ended after seven days, but thanks to House of Skin, it's still active.

It's simple to maintain: as long as I regularly supply new skin that matches my form, along with adequate moisture and nutrients, House of Skin activates automatically and prolongs the duration.

The downside? My appearance changes every time I switch skin, and if I don't keep the skin hydrated, it deteriorates. Maintenance is a bit of a chore but it doesn't significantly interfere with my activities.

To put it simply, this is like an upgraded version of my previous infiltration traits, without their shortcomings.

'If only I could use this together with the Mimicry Organ…'

Unfortunately, the two traits are incompatible. Skinwalker burns through genetic data to function, while the Mimicry Organ requires that same data to be intact.

'Still, even as it is, it's incredibly useful.'

Thanks to the Unknown Usurper, the parasites, and various other traits I possess, taking over this ship was no trouble.

Now it was time to check the data stored in the ship.

'There should be quite a bit of useful information here.'

Megacorp never does charity. If they send out a rescue vessel, it's because they want something.

'They're here for information.'

According to the crew and the survivors from the orbital city, Outspacers are appearing all across Megacorp space. The fourth-ranked member of the Returner faction has mobilized.

If I were one of Megacorp's overlords, the first thing I'd want to know is what the enemy soldiers look like.

The lower-ranked Outspacers have fairly intuitive appearances and roles. If they've got sleek builds and organic turrets, they're likely ranged support. If they're bulky with sharp claws, they're probably frontline assault units.

And for someone like me, who has fought Outspacers extensively, I can tell at a glance which genetic essences are inside them. I can even gauge roughly how many valuable essences the enemy legion has acquired.

The top rankers in Megacorp surely know this as well. They must be gathering intel. And the other capital factions Noble Capital and Prime Capital are likely following their lead.

The rescue vessels gathering survivors from Outsapcer attacks have the same goal: to collect information.

'If I can make good use of this ship and the situation…'

I could learn how the warfront is shifting without even setting foot outside.

That would make my next moves far easier whether devouring more Outspacers or hunting down Akira.

"Alright then. Let's see what's inside."

I activated the computer on the captain's desk. Just as I was about to access the data, the desk gave a slight tremble.

Not just the desk. The walls of the room began to vibrate in a rhythmic pattern. Something was knocking against the outer hull of the ship.

"Number 26?"

While I was infiltrating the ship, they kept their distance but continued to follow me. Now that I had full control of the vessel, it seemed they wanted to come aboard.

I ordered the infected crewmembers on the bridge to open the hangar doors and headed that way.

When I arrived at the hangar, I saw a graceful red Gallagon and a cute pink Sea Demon.

｢Big Baby! Hello!｣

Number 26, looking like a giant jellyfish, paddled closer with its fins. As it neared me, its body shrank until it was no larger than a small balloon.

Then, just like it used to, it bounced up and landed on my head.

The monster's tentacles, the means I use to communicate with them, were currently tucked beneath the inner layer of my neck skin. I extended a few tendrils through the openings around my ears and mouth.

[ZZZZ (Welcome back)]

｢Your shape is different.｣

[ZZ (Yeah)]

｢Fewer thin appendages than before!｣

Fascinated by the human skin, it prodded at my head with a tentacle.

｢Again｣ ｢Shorty｣ ｢Not good｣ ｢Big One｣ ｢Real form｣ ｢Is better｣

Adhai approached with elegant strides and sent a mental wave.

Unlike Number 26, she clearly didn't like my human disguise. She was consistent in her tastes, at least. I gently scratched her between the horns and neck to soothe her.

[ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (I won't be like this long. Just bear with it for a while)]

｢Tickles｣

｢Me too! Me too!｣

Despite her words, her tail was swaying gently. I must've picked the right spot, it seemed like it was an itch she couldn't easily reach.

Number 26, watching from atop my head, came down to my shoulder and also asked for attention.

[ZZZ (Feels good?)]

｢Yes!｣

｢Kinda｣ ｢Okay-ish｣

"We're here too."

While I was tending to the two of them, PS-111 and Isabel the Screamer sisters entered the hangar. I quickly retracted the monster's tendrils back into my body.

"That always looks painful when I see it."

"It's not my body, so I don't feel a thing."

I wiped the fluid trailing from my ears and mouth with my sleeve. Isabel, coiled like a centipede in her elongated form, glanced at the uniform I was wearing.

"That insignia on your shoulder… looks like you're pretending to be the captain now."

"Yeah, something like that."

"From outside, the ship looked pretty big. A vessel this size needs a lot of crew, doesn't it?"

The key personnel required to run the ship had already been infected with parasites. And even if some gaps remained, it wouldn't be a problem if there was someone here who could help.

"There's no need to worry. I can handle ship operations with the help of the Mini-Screamers," PS-111 interjected, producing a cluster of them from her abdomen.

"Deploy!"

"Deploy!"

As soon as they landed on the floor, the spider-like machines scurried out of the hangar on sharp metal legs.

Watching them go, Isabel quickly added,

"Wait. Don't go solving everything alone again. Let's do this together."

"Huh? Understood."

"I just need to access the Mini-Screamers through the connection we talked about, right?"

"That's correct. But please do keep in mind what I mentioned last time."

"You said switching lines during remote control could cause instability, right? Got it."

"Thank you for your support. Also, when accessing the ship's systems"

The two Screamers continued their conversation fluidly.

Gone was the acidic back-and-forth they had the last time I saw them.

"Guess they've already made up."

From the tone Isabel used when pointing things out, it felt like she had been the first to let go of her anger. There was a kind of practiced familiarity in her voice as if this wasn't the first time they'd gone through something like this.

"Were they like this in real life too?"

The classic dynamic: a stubborn, troublemaking older sister and a grumbling but obedient younger one.

"Well, at least they got closer while I was gone. That's good."

Anyway, my allies had safely arrived. Once I extract the useful data from this ship, all preparations will be complete.

Megacorp and even Edgerton, who dispatched this rescue vessel remain completely unaware.

This hunt begins inside enemy territory deep within the body of the prey.

———

Humanity's history of space exploration is long.

Even before the rise of the Megacorps back when nations and governments still existed humans had already pushed beyond the Solar System and begun colonizing other star systems.

NEO-3 is one such star system, developed before the Megacorps came to power.

Now under the ownership of Prime Capital Edgerton, the entire NEO-3 system functions as a military-industrial complex and weapons research facility. Most of the Edgerton family's experimental weapons are developed here.

It's essentially the backbone of the family's military might, and as such, security is extremely tight. Entry into NEO-3 requires prior authorization from the Prime Capital, and even internal travel within the system must be reported at every step.

The fleet stationed in the system accounts for roughly 30% of Edgerton's total forces, massive enough that many consider it Edgerton's second capital, just behind Mars.

But now, a shadow looms over this colossal armory that has forged countless weapons of war.

In the pitch-black void of deep space, a flicker of blue light blooms.

Like the flare of a struck match, the tiny spark rapidly expands, illuminating the surrounding vacuum in a soft nebula-like glow. Behind it appear dozens of monstrous shapes.

Some of them are the size of warships, their bodies lined with rows of pulsating biological artillery. Others are leaner, built for close combat, with serrated claws and razor-like fangs. Despite their differing forms and sizes, the galaxy's sentient races classify them as one:

Outspacers. The ancient enemies of the Cult Empire.

And now, they've invaded Megacorp territory.

After executing a faster-than-light leap into the NEO-3 system, the Outspacer assault fleet quickly formed into attack positions.

That's when a turquoise light flashed in the distance.

A beam of immense power surged through the void, slamming into the newly formed Outspacer ranks. Everything it touched regardless of size disintegrated instantly into cosmic dust.

From the direction the beam had come, fleets of alloy-clad warships emerged, heavy cannons trained on the intruders. A torrent of green plasma fire burst forth in the next instant.

Already weakened by the first beam, the Outspacer vanguard began to fall rapidly under the barrage. It was clear that the invaders were outgunned and outmatched but they did not retreat.

Not because they lacked intelligence. Their mission wasn't to win.

Their goal was to draw attention.

The queen who had sent this initial wave had more cards to play.

While the vanguard fulfilled its role as a distraction, the real strike force leapt into NEO-3 space.

Around the main fleet, still focused on its bombardment, space shimmered with blue distortion. More Outspacers erupted from the fractured void and surged toward the warships.

In response, the ships turned their auxiliary turrets and began launching onboard fighters.

Many of the charging creatures were shot down mid-approach. But even more survived the barrage and closed the distance. A chaotic dogfight erupted between warships, fighter craft, and Outspacer drones.

Amid a storm of plasma beams and massive spear-sized projectiles, the swarm pressed in.

Corrosive digestive fluids rained down. Monstrous claws tore into turrets and armored hulls. Behind them, fighter craft darted in pursuit, lighting up the vacuum with their engines and weapons fire.

It was a brutal, disordered melee ships and creatures locked in a deadly ballet.

Then came something new.

Four massive Outspacers appeared at once, entering the fray.

Their numbers were small, but their forms were unlike the rest far larger and more alien in appearance. Clearly, these were not standard units.

Several ships quickly pivoted their main cannons toward the new threats. Columns of plasma streaked through space, targeting the newcomers.

And that's when the largest of the four, a creature resembling a bioluminescent jellyfish, tinged in bluish-yellow lifted its many tendrils toward the oncoming beams.

Then something extraordinary happened.

The plasma beams bent mid-flight.

Rather than strike true, the energy twisted unnaturally in the void, veering off course and slamming into allied warships nearby. Friendly fire erupted across the fleet.

While chaos bloomed, another of the four made its move.

It looked like a red-shelled pill bug only scaled up to nearly 100 meters. It curled into a tight sphere, then launched itself like a railgun shot toward the warships.

It was a living projectile with a mind of its own.

Not even the heaviest armor plating could withstand the force. Ship after ship was punctured clean through, torn in half by the sheer momentum.

The fleet was in disarray. Several ships went down in flames. The rest of those still functional were forced to retreat in a hurry.

The tide of battle, once favoring the fleet, shifted in an instant.

If no new variables emerged, victory would soon fall to the Outspacers.

But humanity had yet to play its trump card.

While the fleet held the line, the Gigacracker, its main cannon charged and ready fired once more. Sensing the approaching energy surge, the four large Outspacer units hastily disengaged from the battlefield.

A massive teal beam ripped through space, instantly annihilating scores of creatures in its path. Even the retreating four were consumed by the blue light and vanished without a trace.

"Ion cannon strike confirmed. 80% of enemy forces eliminated."

"No additional FTL jumps detected."

"Phew…"

In the flagship's command room, Jacob exhaled deeply as he watched the battlefield unfold via a massive holographic projection.

"Dispatch Fourth and Fifth Fleets to mop up the remaining hostiles. Pursuit is limited to within system range if the targets flee beyond that, pull back immediately."

"Understood."

"…Lord Walter. Thank you for your support. Your assistance minimized the damage significantly."

Having issued post-battle orders, Jacob turned and bowed toward the man whose weapons had turned the tide.

An elderly figure appeared on the bottom corner of the hologram, brushing off the gratitude with a casual wave of his hand.

｢No need to thank me. It's not like I did it for free.｣

Walter Saint-Kei.

Patriarch of the Saint-Kei family, one of the Noble Capitals.

And more importantly, the owner of the Gigacrackers currently deployed in the NEO-3 system.

"We've already transferred the payment as discussed. As for the promised genetic samples, final approval from the family head will take a bit more"

｢You don't need to tell me that. My underlings will handle it.｣

"Ah, y-yes, of course."

Walter cut him off with a look of mild boredom. Jacob didn't push the issue; he simply bowed again and fell silent.

After all, the man was a Noble Capital patriarch.

Even if Jacob was the commanding officer of NEO-3's defenses, he wasn't in a position to object to anything the old man said.

Besides, the Gigacrackers superweapons that had just saved the day were Walter's personal assets. Jacob couldn't afford to offend the man, no matter how curt he was.

｢More importantly, did you see those four larger Outspacer units that showed up at the end?｣

"Yes, I saw them. They were unlike anything we've encountered before."

At Jacob's cue, his adjutant quickly pulled up the footage recorded by the fleet and relayed it to Walter's end, also displaying it on the flagship's main holoscreen.

Walter stroked his chin thoughtfully.

｢Hmph… strange creatures. Doesn't look like they're royal guards there's no queen present to protect.｣

｢But they don't seem to be under any other high-tier unit's command either. What's your take?｣

"As you may know, there have been increasing reports of Outspacer queens using FTL to deploy subunits throughout Megacorp space. It's possible the queen responsible for this assault is a combat-adapted variant."

｢A queen specialized for battle, huh? That would explain why this assault is so different.｣

Indeed, Walter was right.

This latest invasion was fundamentally different from past attacks.

This queen was using strategy.

It wasn't just a brute-force swarm it was a coordinated strike that included specialized units tailored to the evolving battle conditions.

And all the targets so far had one thing in common: they were either militarily or economically vital systems.

In other words, this queen understood the concept of strategic strongholds and was acting accordingly.

｢A true army, then. Not just a hive.｣

"Exactly."

Walter grinned sharp and wolfish.

｢How delightful. It's been a while since I've had such worthy prey.｣

His voice was calm, but there was a fire in his eyes.

And then came the words Jacob didn't expect:

｢I've changed my mind.｣

"Sir?"

｢Forget the sample rewards. I want the heads of those four monsters. Personally.｣

"Are… are you saying you'll be joining us here directly?"

Walter nodded.

Jacob stiffened.

Things were about to get a lot more complicated… or a lot more interesting.

｢Akira's still not awake, and Saddam's watching over the Solar System… A little stroll shouldn't hurt.｣

"If you do decide to come, you'll always be welcome, sir."

｢Hunting strong prey requires proper etiquette. I'll be in touch once I'm ready.｣

With that, the transmission cut off.

Jacob let out a short sigh and dropped into his chair.

'Thank goodness Walter's an eccentric.'

Had it been a different noble patriarch or someone else from the upper echelons he would've never secured that kind of backup so easily.

'At least I won't have to worry about reinforcements for a while.'

Outspacers with high intelligence were never easy opponents. As seen from the emergence of these new enhanced types, their offensives would only grow more dangerous over time.

No matter how formidable NEO-3's defenses and fleets were, maintaining a prolonged campaign would require direct support from the Martian headquarters.

The problem?

Jacob was at odds with the current acting patriarch stationed on Mars who was clearly waiting for an excuse to get rid of him.

A single misstep during this defense, any sign of weakness, and they would pounce on the opportunity to have him replaced.

'But with support from Saint-Kei...'

The situation would be different.

'Even the acting patriarch will have to ease up on his leash.'

No matter how powerful he was politically, it would be difficult to justify ousting someone who had the backing of a Noble Capital and had successfully defended a vital system.

At the very least, Jacob would be untouchable as long as he held this front.

'And in the meantime, I need to finish developing the new weapon.'

If he could safeguard the system and complete development of anti-Outspacer weaponry, Jacob's prestige would skyrocket.

From there, even toppling the acting patriarch might not be out of reach.

Just then, his personal terminal lit up.

"Hm? Blair?"

A report had just arrived from the subordinate he'd sent to gather intel on the Outspacers. It confirmed mission success.

"Faster than expected."

He replied with a short acknowledgment and instructions to return, then leaned back with a satisfied smile.

Everything was going according to plan.

Unless some unforeseen wildcard emerged, there was no reason for his strategy to fail.

He would be the one to win this war.

***

'Promising me a big reward, are you? How sweet of you.'

I chuckled as a message from the superior I'd been impersonating lit up my screen.

'You sent me to investigate the parasites, and yet you don't suspect a thing.'

The true purpose of this rescue ship was to identify and collect individuals infected with Outspacer parasites.

The captain's logs were full of clues pointing to a broader infiltration effort involving parasite-based espionage.

'Definitely the handiwork of Rank 4.'

The fourth-ranked Outspacer, a top predator among their kind, was a specialist in parasite warfare.

That said, his method was a bit different from mine.

Outspacer parasites couldn't control their hosts as completely as I could.

At best, they could inhibit certain abilities or restrict access to equipment.

But in exchange, they had no upper limit on how many targets they could infect.

That's why Rank 4 preferred to scatter dormant parasites across enemy territory long in advance.

Then, once combat broke out, he'd activate them all at once, crippling his enemies mid-fight.

He'd use them as surveillance tools during peacetime, and as softening agents during war.

'The parasites already spread across Megacorp must've been planted ages ago.'

Either way, the message I'd received from "my superior" Jacob was an order to return to his location, now that the mission was "complete."

And that location?

One of the most infamous systems in the game: NEO-3.

"NEO-3, huh…"

In the lore, many of the star systems and space cities under Megacorp's control were originally developed back in the era when nation-states and formal governments still existed. The Solar System, the heart of the faction and the T&C Special Trade Hub we visited earlier are classic examples.

NEO-3 is another one of those early settlements, pioneered long before Megacorp was ever formed.

"So it's finally been claimed. That star system never had a fixed owner. Looks like Prime Capital took it this time."

"Is it somewhere you're familiar with?"

PS-111, who was in the bridge with me, picked up on my muttering and asked a question.

"Not too familiar. I just know a bit."

"I see."

Owning NEO-3 meant tapping into the massive arms factories buried throughout the system. The profit margins were so high that many players would venture there just to try and seize control of it.

In my case, I only ever went to NEO-3 for one reason: to hunt those players down.

'Aside from that, I never had a real reason to go.'

Since NEO-3 isn't home to any rare fauna or Apex creatures, there was no real incentive for Amorphs or Outspacers to go there either.

For us, there are really only two reasons to target the place:

Either ambush the incoming players… or cut off Megacorp's supply lines.

'Either way, this works out.'

From the logs the captain left behind, it looked like NEO-3 was currently under attack by Outspacers. If I head there now, I might be able to run into some higher-order units, maybe even a Queen.

That'd be killing two birds with one stone:

Crippling Megacorp and harvesting Outspacer essence.

"Set course for NEO-3."

"Understood. Adjusting navigation parameters."

PS-111 connected a cable tucked beneath its chin to the ship's computer, recalibrating our route.

"Estimated time to arrival: within four days."

"Good."

"Um, Amorph. I have a request."

"Yeah?"

I'd just been about to send a reply to Jacob when the machine cut in.

"There's a location in NEO-3 I'd like to visit."

"A location?"

"Yes. While analyzing Pyra Eleven's data, I found records of exchanges with a weapons research facility on NEO-3. I'd like to investigate."

Back when we looted the remains of Adhai's old homeland, we'd recovered Pyra Eleven's flagship. Later, while hunting the Arcane Orca, PS-111 also managed to secure the brain of another High Councilor, which allowed it to decode much of the data stored onboard.

From that trove, we uncovered files tied to a new Screamer development project Pyra Eleven had been part of. Among them were references to a laboratory that had collaborated on the project.

"You're sure?"

"Positive. Pyra Eleven routinely sent test subjects to NEO-3."

As far as I knew, there weren't any gene research facilities on NEO-3.

'Then again, that might just be information limited to the game version I played.'

There's nothing stopping the Edgerton family from building a genetics lab there in this timeline. I met its gaze and gave a small nod.

"Alright. We'll check it out once we arrive."

"Thank you."

The mechanical lens that served as its eye contracted slightly, then returned to normal.

Its face was made of polished alloy, so it was hard to read emotions but I could tell it was pleased.

'A genetics lab, huh? This could be fun.'

If that research facility really was part of the Screamer project, then it's likely to be storing all kinds of juicy genetic samples. I can't wait to see what we'll find.

And with that, we set a course for Megacorp's grand armory.

Our next stop: NEO-3.

——————

｢Scan complete. No abnormalities detected.｣

"Next, we'll proceed with an internal inspection. Please cooperate."

"Another inspection? Come on, just skip it already, will you?"

The NEO-3 star system had three security gates to ensure its defense. Anyone trying to enter the system had to pass through one of the massive fortress stations that served as checkpoints.

NEO First Gate City was one of those entry points.

This colossal structure, built to accommodate and resupply entire fleets, was as busy as ever hordes of visitors came and went each day.

"If you refuse, we have orders from command to subdue you with force. We ask for your cooperation."

"What? What capital are you from?!"

"If you have a complaint, please file it formally with the Edgerton family."

"You son of a—!"

At the mention of 'Edgerton' from the soldier conducting the inspection, those who understood the weight behind that name quickly fell silent.

"Hey, time for shift change."

Only after inspecting dozens of ships did the long-awaited break arrive. The exhausted soldiers gathered in a quiet corner, e-cigarettes in hand.

"Damn, the flow just won't stop."

"All because of those goddamn monsters. I heard half the sectors are already screwed."

Their own system was holding off the Outspacers well enough, but not everywhere was so lucky. Both the media and the base were filled with stories of star systems reduced to ruins.

"Didn't you say you're from the frontier? What about your family?"

"They moved to Triton last year."

"Triton? As in the Triton, in the Solar System?"

"Yeah."

"Then why the hell are you busting your ass here? Rich bastard."

"Heh, rich my ass. Took out a loan just to get in. One slip, and I'm a wage-slave for life."

"Tch. Rich guy problems. What about you, Rodman?"

A soldier named Rodman tilted his head at the question.

"Huh? Oh, uh… I can't really remember."

"What the hell? You forgot where your wife lives?"

"Haven't been sleeping much. My memory's been weird lately."

"Sleep, my ass. You're probably hopped up on something."

"Tch. I get where he's coming from. I wire money every week, but I only hear back maybe twice a year. I can't even remember what my kids look like anymore."

"One guy's so fried he forgets his wife, another's got his kids on Triton and barely remembers their faces. What a mess."

"I'm telling you, I'm not on anything."

Even during their break, the soldiers couldn't help but sink into grim conversation.

NEO First Gate City itself had never come under direct attack—but the same couldn't be said for the people stationed here. A large number of their comrades had been dispatched to fight the Outspacers… and never came back.

Every time word of another ambush reached them, more empty seats appeared in the mess hall. It was only a matter of time before they, too, would be called out. The constant dread was eating away at their minds.

"Damn monsters. How long is this going to go on…?"

"Hey, you guys."

Just then, someone approached them from across the hangar.

"Enough smoke break. Give us a hand."

"Come on, our break's not even over yet."

"Command said once we get this done, we're off for the day."

"Seriously?"

That bit of good news perked everyone up.

"Alright. What's left?"

"See that rescue ship that just came in? Just inspect that and you're done."

"A rescue ship? You mean that one?"

"That thing's huge. We're supposed to inspect all of it?"

"Don't worry. Command already cleared it. Just do a quick scan and call it good."

"Oh, well, that's a relief."

The soldiers stubbed out their vapes and made their way toward the rescue vessel their colleague pointed to.

A man in crew uniform stood at the front of the ship to receive them.

"Greetings. I'm Joel."

The man introduced himself with a smile.

But his expression aside, Joel didn't look well at all. His eyes were glassy and lifeless, like those of a drug addict. If it weren't for the uniform, he could've easily been mistaken for a terminal patient.

"Uh, ahem. Nice to meet you. We're from the Zone 5 Inspection Team. It's about the internal check, so we'd appreciate your cooperation."

"Yes. I'll assist with the tour."

Of course, poor condition or not, duty couldn't be delayed.

Following Joel's lead, the inspection team entered the rescue ship.

Unlike its spotless exterior, the interior was rougher than expected. It wasn't dirty per se—but signs of patchwork were visible on the walls, ceiling, and doors.

"These look like blast marks. Why are there traces of explosions here?"

"And where is everyone? There aren't many people aboard."

"There was a mutiny during the return trip. That's why the crew number is reduced."

"Excuse me? What do you mean by that?"

"One of the people we rescued was infected by an Outspacer parasite. Once it spread, the crew went berserk. That's how this happened."

Only then did the soldiers begin to understand—why the ship's interior bore signs of destruction, and why Joel looked the way he did.

A surprise attack in a confined space, without knowing who the enemy was… even seasoned veterans would struggle to survive that. In fact, surviving at all in that condition seemed nothing short of remarkable.

"Fortunately, our rescue vessel belongs to the Silver Lion Knight Order. Many of our crew, including the captain, are long-time members. Myself included."

"Ah, you're with the Silver Lions?"

Now it made sense—why the command had ordered them to wrap up the inspection quickly and move on.

Not just NEO First Gate City, but the entire star system was under the oversight of the Silver Lion Knight Order. The officers commanding the inspection team were also members. There had likely been communication with the rescue ship long before it arrived.

"Ahem… I believe we've seen enough. You're cleared to depart whenever ready."

"Thank you."

"Take care, then."

With the situation understood, there was no reason to drag things out. The inspection team gave the ship a cursory check and then disembarked.

"All done. Who's up for drinks?"

"You lunatic. You got wasted just last night."

"Not like there's anything else to do in the dorms."

"Tch. Fair."

"I'm beat. I'm heading in."

"Ease up on the meds."

"I'm not on anything, dammit."

Rodman, who was clearly not all there, declined the invitation.

As he parted ways with his colleagues and headed toward the dormitory, he suddenly felt a gaze on him. He turned to look back.

Far in the distance, he could see the rescue ship they had just inspected. It was still docked in place, perhaps waiting for resupply.

It was a common enough sight in this sector, yet Rodman couldn't shake a strange feeling—like someone inside the ship was watching him.

"…Tch. Don't be stupid."

Maybe it was just the lack of sleep making him sensitive. Brushing off the unsettling vibe, he continued on toward his quarters.

He arrived by subway at the residential block reserved for soldiers and walked directly to his unit.

The place was a mess, like it had been neglected for weeks. The moment he stepped into the familiar clutter, he collapsed onto the bed buried under piles of garbage.

"…I should clean up…"

But a wave of unnatural drowsiness hit him, pinning his body like lead. Unable to lift a finger, he mumbled to himself—and then slipped into sleep.

***

How much time had passed?

When Rodman opened his eyes, a building stood before him.

It was late—any entrance should have been locked by now—but the door was ajar, as if expecting a visitor. Without hesitation, he pushed it open and walked inside.

He didn't know what this building was. He'd never been here, not once in all his time posted in the city. He didn't even remember how he got there.

And yet, he wasn't surprised. The reason was simple:

Everything he saw was part of a dream.

At some point, Rodman had started having this bizarre recurring dream. The details were always the same: he would descend into the basement of an unfamiliar building and meet someone there to talk.

That was all.

His consciousness, as it always did, descended into the underground.

As he went down, he saw others.

A man in military uniform, a cultist immigrant who worked in the commercial district, a maintenance laborer from the city—people from all walks of life stood gathered there. Rodman found himself among strangers he had never seen before.

Across from him, their lips moved ceaselessly. No sound reached him, so he couldn't tell what they were saying. Perhaps he too was speaking—but he had no way of knowing.

In the end, all he could do was silently watch the soundless conversation of unfamiliar people.

And usually, if he just stayed like that, at some point he'd naturally wake up in his bed back at the dorms, greeted by morning.

But not tonight.

The lips that had been moving non-stop suddenly stopped, and all eyes turned to Rodman.

No—more precisely, to something behind him.

"Interesting."

A man's voice. One Rodman had never heard before. It came from behind him.

He didn't even have time to flinch before his body reacted violently. Cold sweat burst from every pore, and the hair on his neck stood on end. Even in this dream, he could feel his heart hammering in his chest.

What he felt was unmistakably fear. And the others felt it too.

The once-still figures scattered like they'd rehearsed it. All at once, they tried to flee.

Rodman's legs finally moved too, trying to pull him away from the voice behind him.

"I've seen parasites before, but this is different. Is it because of the special trait?"

As the man spoke, Rodman's legs froze mid-step on the stairs.

He wasn't the only one. Everyone else down there had stopped as well.

It was like time had stopped. Bodies were frozen mid-run, faces twisted in panic—yet nothing moved.

Then they began to rise.

The ones who'd started up the stairs—Rodman among them—were lifted into the air by an invisible force and pulled back down into the basement.

It was then that Rodman saw the source of the voice for the first time.

The man wore a captain's uniform. His face was obscured by shadows, and in one hand, he held a small pink balloon.

"I heard from Isabel…"

He approached Rodman. As he stepped under a flickering overhead light, his face came into view.

Utterly average. A tired-looking middle-aged man with dry skin and sunken eyes.

"…But it's always better to see with my own eyes."

The moment those words left his mouth, the man's jaw began to split open—grotesquely, unnaturally. Something pale and scaly began to emerge from within the gaping maw.

Rodman watched and thought:

This is a dream.

Even as a shrill scream burst from his own throat and echoed in his ears, even as the acrid stench of urine spread from the front of his pants—he was certain of it.

This was a dream. No more than that.

It just felt a little more real than usual.

He'd wake up soon, tucked into bed, safe and sound.

That hope vanished the moment that something reached out and grabbed his face.

—————

When playing Space Survival, things rarely go as planned.

There are simply too many variables hundreds of species, wildly differing planetary environments, entire star systems each with their own quirks. And for the Amorph, most of its playthrough is spent in a vulnerable state, so adapting to unexpected situations becomes a necessity.

'Just like now.'

Originally, I hadn't intended to stay long at Neo First Gate City, the outer checkpoint of this star system. The plan was to pass through quickly and establish a base elsewhere.

But now, resting in my palm, was the reason for the delay a parasite from the Outspacers.

During the inspection earlier, Isabel, who had been hiding nearby, identified a soldier infected with a parasite. She told me about it once we were clear.

I already knew this system was under threat from Outspacers. The appearance of a parasite wasn't anything surprising in itself.

What made it different was the nature of the one in the soldier's head.

It was a parasite created through a Special Trait.

After hearing Isabel's report, I covertly tailed the infected soldier. Thanks to that, I was able to ambush the meeting point where he and the other infected were gathering.

｢I caught everyone who tried to run.｣

[ZZ ZZ (Well done.)]

Number 26, who had come with me, unleashed its psychic power and immobilized all the fleeing infected.

Now, while holding the parasite freshly extracted from the soldier, I gently stroked the little one resting in my other arm.

'A parasite born of a special trait, huh.'

Just as Isabel had said, the one pulled from the soldier looked vastly different from the ones I was familiar with.

Normally, Outspacer parasites resemble mine in shape, just smaller. But this one was different.

It had a perfectly round, black-bead body like a polished Go stone. It was tiny enough to slip easily into a nose or mouth. When I removed it, I found it nested deep inside the nasal cavity, close to the brain.

That's when Number 26 tapped me with one of its tiny tentacles.

｢I know what this is. This is choco.｣

[ZZ (Choco?)]

｢People love choco. I saw it in a movie.｣

It eagerly pointed at the parasite in my hand and began explaining.

Well… it does look similar, I suppose.

Though I doubted the taste would be anything alike.

But the changes weren't just in appearance. Its capabilities were also far beyond the original.

Significantly enhanced, in fact.

Despite being smaller than a marble, this parasite can completely control a host.

I pressed down lightly with my finger, and a viscous fluid oozed from the parasite's body.

This narcotic liquid induces a hypnotic state in its host. Once absorbed, the human starts to believe they're dreaming. They don't resist. They don't tell others.

Because to them, it's just a dream.

Once the host is subdued, the parasite takes full control of their body. It's a much more efficient method than the pain-induced dominance my own parasites employ.

It'd be great if I could make something like this myself…

Unfortunately, that's not possible right now.

I tossed the parasite into my mouth.

｢Tasty?｣

[ZZZ (No.)]

To Number 26's disappointment, the taste was awful. The texture alone was enough to make my form recoil. I digested it instantly, but no new traits manifested.

To gain its abilities, I'd need to consume the source the queen-worker that spawns them. Just like I did when I acquired the 'Parasitic Hive' trait.

Or… I could take down the one who created this thing.

He's one of the returnee elites Rank 4 among the Outspacer leaders, and the creator of this enhanced parasite through his unique Special Trait.

If I steal that power… I'll be able to make these parasites myself.

'Was the name Chimera Engineering?'

Chimera Engineering a Special Trait that allows the implantation of genetic essences without regard for biological compatibility or limits.

The queen who can travel at Faster than light speeds, the parasite that hypnotizes and controls its hosts both were made possible thanks to this Trait. That alone shows just how powerful its potential is.

'Of course, it comes with its own risks.'

Stuffing your swarm with high-quality genetic essences is a double-edged sword. If the enemy captures or consumes your creations, the losses are devastating.

Rank 4 knows this well he rarely overuses his Trait. Despite several clashes with the Outspacers, I've encountered only a few organisms enhanced through his Trait.

I scanned the infected still immobilized by Number 26's psychic field. Since parasites don't leak essences upon death, he must've deployed them so freely with that in mind.

'That's taken care of.'

If even a low-priority checkpoint city like this has parasites implanted, it's likely that other space cities and planets in the system are also compromised.

'Trying to trigger internal collapse before launching an offensive?'

Or maybe the goal is to neutralize the gate cities first.

Gate cities serve the same function as Cult surveillance offices they monitor all Faster than light traffic in and out of the star system. Once they're breached, it becomes nearly impossible to respond to ambush jumps. In that window, if an enemy fleet strikes, they could seize control of an entire system with minimal losses.

'If this many parasites are already seeded, the preparations must be nearly complete.'

Which means the offensive will begin soon.

To be honest, that's not necessarily bad news for me. One of my goals in coming here was to feed on large numbers of Outspacers.

But the timing's a problem.

If war breaks out now, it'll be hard to acquire information about the Megacorp and the Dominant Faction.

'And I won't be able to carry out PS-111's request, either.'

If I were Rank 4, I'd definitely target the genetic research facility here in the NEO-3 system. To the Outspacers, gene samples are highly valuable prey.

'I can't let that happen.'

I need to shake things up force him to hesitate.

'Rank 4 is extremely cautious.'

Among the Outspacer elites, he's the most methodical and control-obsessed. He never acts unless he's confident of complete control over a situation. Even small unexpected events prompt him to halt and recalibrate.

If something unpredictable happens now, he'll likely delay the attack and reorganize his swarm to address it.

That's the window PS-111 and Isabel needs to reach the facility.

'So what's something that'll really throw him off?'

The most effective option would be rampaging through this city in my true form. We've fought a few times already, and he's paid a price each time. If I resurface, he'll probably stop everything and focus on trying to trap and kill me.

'No… that would delay the invasion too much.'

Besides, he doesn't know I'm here. It'd be a waste to throw away that advantage so soon.

'Unless…'

An old trick came to mind one I hadn't used in quite a while.

'Now that I think of it, I haven't used that Trait in ages.'

Ever since I acquired Faster than light travel, I've rarely needed it. I've used the body parts that came with it more often than the Trait itself.

'Still… maybe it's time to dust it off.'

After all, this entire space city is a gate hub for the star system perfect material for the Trait to act upon.

'Then let's wrap this up.'

I was done here. Only cleanup remained.

I extended a claw and punctured the heads of the infected still bound by 26's psychic field.

Some, I intentionally left alive. Killing every host would alert their creator the death of a parasite sends a signal. Better to cull just enough to avoid suspicion.

｢I wanna eat the choco too.｣

While still nestled against me, 26 watched as I finished dealing with the infected. It released a small pulse.

[ZZZ ZZZ ZZZ (It tastes bad. Why eat it?)]

｢I was curious.｣

Without hesitation, it grabbed one of the parasites dying after losing its host and swallowed it whole.

A few moments later, its skin shifted into an odd hue.

｢Blegh. Not good.｣

[ZZ ZZ (Told you so)]

｢Humans are weird. Why do they eat choco?｣

[ZZ ZZZZ ZZ (I'll find you some real chocolate later)]

｢Real tasty stuff? Really?｣

[ZZZZ ZZ (Yeah. It's in another place)]

｢Yay!｣

Number 26's entire body lit up with a bright glow as it wriggled in delight.

In lore, chocolate is categorized by the Megacorp as a nostalgic delicacy once popular in the old Solar System. It's now outdated and considered a relic of the past mostly featured in entertainment media like old films. To get some, one would need to visit colonies that still produce vintage media or stores specializing in Solar-themed goods.

'Guess I've got one more errand now.'

[ZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZ (We'll release them once we leave)]

｢Okay.｣

The cleanup was quick.

I pulled my half-peeled skin suit back over my head and stepped outside with 26 in tow.

Even though this was a space fortress, the night view wasn't much different from any other orbital city. Streetlights lit the roads. Far off in the distance, I could see the central command tower rising above the darkened surroundings.

"The docks should be in that direction…"

Public transportation had stopped for the night. I climbed up the wall of a nearby building and onto the rooftop.

'If I run across the rooftops, I should make it there in about an hour.'

Just as I was about to leap across the gap to the next building, something unfamiliar caught my eye below.

A cargo truck container and all was parked at the roadside.

'A truck?'

I dropped from the rooftop and approached the vehicle. There hadn't been anything here earlier.

Then, from the driver's seat, a small mechanical object emerged with a metallic click. It was one of the mini-screamers that PS-111 had brought.

"MPS-05? What are you doing here?"

"Main controller. Amorph. Assistance!"

Looks like PS-111 had hacked into a dockside vehicle and sent it my way for support.

Thoughtful, sure but the truck was ridiculously oversized for just me and 26.

'Was this meant to carry the infected?'

Otherwise, there's no reason to go out of the way to send a truck with a container. I walked around to the back and opened the container doors.

As soon as the doors swung open, a wave of red light burst out.

Inside, curled up in the cramped space, was Adhai the red-scaled Gallagon, glowing faintly under the dim container lights.

'…Why is she here?'

I peeled back my facial skin just enough to let a tendril emerge and reach toward her.

[ZZZ ZZZZ (Adhai? What are you doing here?)]

｢Big One｣ ｢This Place｣ ｢Many Dwarfs｣ ｢Dangerous｣

[ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ (Wait, did you come here to help me?)]

｢Affirmative｣

She stared at me with her amethyst-colored eyes, her expression as steady and serious as ever.

The Stolen Identity I was using could be deactivated at any moment if I wanted. I wasn't in danger of losing power.

But apparently, they saw things differently.

"Tch."

It was a gesture born of concern unnecessary, yes, but not something I could scold her for.

[ZZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ (Thank you. But next time, it's really okay not to worry so much.)]

I sent a pulse of gratitude and reached out to stroke her neck gently.

"…Hm?'

While I was petting Adhai, a strange sensation sparked across my shoulder.

It lasted for only a split second like a tiny jolt of fire dancing across my skin.

I glanced toward Number 26, perched on my shoulder, but it looked the same as always. Calm. Neutral. Its gaze remained fixed on my face.

Adhai, too, showed no particular reaction. Her amethyst eyes remained steady, quietly watching me.

'Was that just my imagination?'

There's no way those two would feel any animosity toward each other. They get along well too well, even. It must've just been a false signal, a phantom twitch from a hyper-aware body.

I gently closed the container door where Adhai lay curled, then made my way to the driver's seat.

"We're heading for the docks."

"Return! Return!"

MPS-05 responded cheerily as it interfaced with the truck's control panel and took the wheel.

And so, a truck carrying a monster, a sea demon, and a mini screamer drove through the quiet night streets of the orbital fortress.

Which worked out just fine I needed to talk about what came next anyway.

We spent the ride discussing the plan ahead. Before I knew it, thirty minutes had passed, and the truck rolled to a stop at our destination.

"I'll get off here. Just follow the plan from here on."

"Confirmed. Confirmed."

As I stepped out, I found myself surrounded by open space and rows of docked ships. 26 jumped down beside me, and we disappeared into the metallic forest of starships.

Let's see…

Massive and modest ships stood like metal walls, stacked side by side. Some sat quietly with their lights off, crews probably off-base for the night. Others were alive with activity, MCAEs (Multipurpose Construction Auxiliary Equipment) humming as they loaded and transported cargo.

A destroyer-class ship should be about right. And ideally… one without a crew ah, there.

I spotted what I was looking for: a disarmed freighter converted from a retired destroyer. Bigger than its original model, and utterly unarmed.

'Perfect. Time to break in.'

The area around the ship was empty loading must've already been completed. I crouched, then leapt into the air, grabbing onto the rear plating of the vessel.

Now came Number 26's turn.

Still clinging to my back, it extended its power outward. Psychic pressure twisted and warped the metal hull until it tore open silently.

In seconds, a hole just large enough for a child to crawl through formed in the side of the ship.

I shrunk my body and slipped inside. A few pieces of torn skin and clothing were left behind, but it didn't matter. This skin was just a shell; it had served its purpose.

The ship's interior was dead quiet. The owner hadn't realized an intruder had arrived.

Together, Number 26 and I punched through bulkhead after bulkhead, making our way deeper inside.

After carving through several walls, we finally reached the cargo bay.

In the middle of a wide open area filled with containers, I released the Stolen Identity form.

My body, which had been shrunk and simplified, began to expand rapidly filling the vacant space. Limbs and organs that had been suppressed returned to their full, grotesque glory.

As I settled back into my true shape, I pressed an invasive tendril to the floor.

｢Ship size confirmed suitable for Corrosion.｣

Good.

It had been a while since I'd seen that system message.

[ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ (From here on, you'll need to protect me. Okay?)]

｢Yup! I'll protect Big One no matter what!｣

The little one waved its tentacles confidently, full of pride.

With my back secured, I activated the card I had been saving.

My second Unique Trait one I hadn't used in ages. The one that allows me to consume and merge with a spaceship, converting it into part of my body:

'Horizon of Nightmare.'

This time, I plan to use it to spread chaos.

——————