I Became an Evolving Space Monster

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[Translator – Seraph]

[Proofreader – Draxx]

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Chapter 489

After about an hour, the Mother of the Sky returned.

[ZZZ ZZZ ZZZ (Number 26 went to see the Gallagons, didn’t it?)]

｢Yes. They all liked it, especially the caretakers.｣

Just as I expected.

Because of its time with Adhai, Number 26 was good with Gallagon hatchlings. Even the usually unruly Blue Gallagons became docile in its presence, so the nest always welcomed it warmly.

[ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ (No doubt it feels good to be held by it.)]

｢That’s tru… wait, what?｣

[ZZZZ ZZZ (Anyway, did you bring the samples?)]

｢Oh, right. Hold on.｣

She gave me a strange look, then pulled out something from her med-kit, a genetic injector for transferring harvested samples.

[ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ (That’s all you need? Nothing else?)]

｢Yes. Just injecting it straight into the body is enough.｣

Normally, gene modification required stabilizers, advanced capsules, and complex machinery. But her trait made all of that unnecessary.

She pressed the injector into her arm. Refined genetic fluid flowed into her veins.

Within moments, her body began to shift. Her head once like an osprey’s grew elongated, bat-like ears, and her torso and arms swelled with corded muscle.

‘Looks like… a Cavegoyle?’

Those winged beasts from the underground, half-bat, half-ape.

[ZZZ ZZZ ZZ (Did you just transform into a Cavegoyle?)]

｢That’s right though it’s more like I added on.｣

She leapt upward in a single bound, clinging barehanded to the flat ceiling. Opening her beak slightly, she lost a burst of inaudible sound that rippled through the bay.

｢This new trait is called Reincarnative Adaptation. With it, I can use the powers of whatever creature the sample came from.｣

Climbing across ceilings, echolocation all classic Cavegoyle abilities, now seamlessly hers.

[ZZZ ZZZ (So the creature’s traits apply to you?)]

｢Yes, but it feels different. More natural, as though they were my own body. Like when I transform into a phantom beast.｣

[ZZZ ZZZ ZZ (What if you transform now?)]

｢I tested that. When I shift, those abilities adapt along. If I became a Thunderbird now, for example, its wings would grow far larger.｣

That explained why she had said it was an addition.

‘The exact opposite of Shinobu’s trait…’

Instead of luring rare beasts, she absorbed their strengths directly. The only similarity was the use of genetic samples.

‘Impressive. Really impressive.’

With this, she could wield the strengths of any creature. If she injected a Vortex-One sample, she’d essentially become a pseudo Vortex-One herself. In many ways, this surpassed even Amorphs or Outspacers.

‘So powerful… it almost worries me.’

Space Survival’s rule of balance was ironclad: great power always came with a price.

[ZZZ ZZ (How long does it last?)]

｢Ten minutes. Injecting more doesn’t extend it.｣

[ZZZ ZZZZ (And other creatures’ samples?)]

｢Same. They do nothing until the ability resets. That takes three days.｣

As expected, the price was steep.

‘Ten minutes active… with a three-day cooldown.’

The duration wasn’t the real problem. In battle, ten minutes was an eternity, if timed well.

The greater drawbacks were the long cooldown and the sample cost.

And strong creatures’ samples were rare. Apex beings’ samples, even rarer still.

‘And it’s not like any of us can refine genetic stock on our own right now.’

Until PS-111 returns, every sample must be used sparingly.

[ZZ ZZZ ZZZ (Then it’s best saved as a trump card.)]

She dropped lightly from the ceiling, landing without a sound, and nodded.

｢Yes. The number of samples I have is limited, and no one here can make new ones.｣

[ZZZ ZZZ ZZ (I have something to say about that.)]

｢?｣

[ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (When we go to Star Union, I want the Coldbloods’ help.)]

｢Coldbloods?｣

[ZZZ ZZZ ZZ (I need to ask them about the supply ships.)]

｢Supply ships… oh! You mean the ones we saw back then?｣

[ZZZ (Exactly.)]

｢So you intend to infiltrate Star Union aboard their supply lines.｣

As expected, with how long we’ve worked together, she grasped my intention at once.

｢But… I’m not sure if the Coldbloods here would know. They’ve lived in hiding too long. Even during the time with Isabel, they barely ever left their burrows.｣

[ZZZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ (It’s fine. If they don’t know, then nothing can be done.)]

｢Alright. When the resident council meets, I’ll bring it up.｣

[ZZZ ZZZ ZZ (Resident council? There’s such a thing now?)]

She nodded.

｢Yes. It started while we were gone. The Coldbloods, the Wolven, and the Gallagons gather to talk.｣

[ZZZ ZZZ (The Gallagons attend too?)]

｢Sometimes. Nel Germa brings a few along.｣

The camp now held fifty people—enough to be called a small village. Different species and different cultures lived together. Holding regular meetings for survival and communication made sense.

But Gallagons attending that was unexpected.

[ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Did something happen to their brood?)]

｢No. They attend because they want to help. The council’s whole purpose is to find ways to aid us.｣

[ZZZ ZZ (Aid us? Why?)]

｢Because they’re grateful.｣

She said it firmly.

｢Everyone on White Stone shares the pain of being persecuted and driven from their homes by greater powers. We gave them shelter, safety. Of course they’re thankful.｣

[ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ (Fair enough. You and Isabel protected them, after all.)]

｢Why do you exclude yourself? They’re just as thankful to you. They only can’t come close because of your energy field.｣

[ZZZ (I see…)]

Her words made me recall the Coldbloods earlier bowing deeply despite the torment of my field.

｢And besides, everyone knows. A great storm is coming.｣

Her griffon-eyes gleamed with gravity.

｢To survive the war ahead, they need a strong refuge. A fortress that cannot be broken. Helping us strengthen the walls is how they ensure their safety.｣

I’d heard something like this before.

Isabel had told me my growing strength had reached a scale that influenced the cosmos itself. And because of that, a following naturally formed around me. From then on, survival was no longer mine alone. Others’ lives would also rest upon me.

And that wasn’t necessarily bad. For the protection I gave, I received aid in return.

‘An Amorph with a following…’

In its own way, wasn’t that another form of evolution? A new weapon, like the extra arms and tails that had once grown upon me.

The only difference being that these weapons couldn’t be regrown if lost.

[ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ (Isabel said much the same. She said she would entrust her life to me.)]

｢She did?｣

In return, she had begged me to protect PS-111 and she had confessed all she knew of Beom-Ho and Si-Hyun Yujin.

‘Another reason I must save PS-111.’

The Mother of the Sky tilted her head, beak sharp, eyes narrowing slightly.

｢Just what kind of situation drove her to say something like that?｣

The Mother of the Sky, who hadn’t been there for any of it, widened her eyes in disbelief.

Come to think of it, I had heard her story but not shared mine. I hadn’t told her what really happened on the way to Megacorp’s scrapyard, who I met afterward, or the dangers I’d stumbled into.

So I began to recount it all.

By the time I finished the tale, even after the effect of her Reincarnative Adaptation had long expired, a heavy silence lingered.

｢…So that’s what happened.｣

She exhaled thought-waves like a sigh, after listening wordlessly for so long.

｢Are you alright?｣

[ZZZ ZZZ ZZ (Of course. No aftereffects at all.)]

｢No—I don’t mean aftereffects. If what the Seventh said was true, then you…｣

Her gaze settled on me with quiet worry.

Her telepathic pulse faltered and went silent, but I knew what she had meant anyway.

‘My true nature.’

Until now, I had judged and acted as though I were human. And yet, the truth was that I was an Amorph—one implanted with human memories.

Who wouldn’t be shaken, having their very existence denied? When I first heard it, I had been. The shock was real.

‘But still…’

[ZZZZ ZZZ (Whatever I am...I am me.)]

To Number 26, I was the Big one it loved. To Adhai, a respected elder. And at my core, an Amorph who valued evolution and survival above all.

Nothing I had seen, endured, or chosen until now had changed. Once I realized that, the confusion melted away.

｢I see.｣

Sensing the steadiness in my waves, she nodded. The worried edge left her eyes.

｢I’m relieved. You really are steady—good.｣

[ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ (You don’t seem very surprised.)]

｢Why would I be? You’re the same Amorph I’ve always known. Nothing about you has changed. And besides…｣

The griffon-wolf shrugged casually.

｢Actually, I prefer you like this. In the game, you didn’t have any humanity at all.｣

Her eyes softened briefly before sharpening again.

｢Then our biggest problem is the Seventh.｣

[ZZZ (Exactly.)]

｢The one who tried to seize your body, but failed… he’s not dead yet, is he?｣

[ZZZ ZZZ (He’s still alive.)]

Though Number 26 and I had shattered his prison, we hadn’t destroyed the entity that birthed the illusions. Beom-Ho himself had not died.

[ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ (We must find him before he strikes again.)]

｢Which means we’ll need Isabel.｣

[ZZZ (Yes.)]

｢…That won’t be easy. Her ability isn’t omnipotent. If the Seventh truly means to vanish, finding him will be harder still.｣

[ZZZZ ZZZ Z (We’ll start with places he’s likely to be.)]

In my mind were maps of Cult players’ haunts, their hideouts and strongholds. Somewhere in those records, traces of his presence would remain. That was where I planned to begin.

｢Hm. That could take a long time. Even if we help Isabel, it’ll still take ages. And if he’s determined to hide…｣

[ZZZ ZZ (There’s no other choice.)]

She scratched her beak with a claw, deep in thought, then spoke.

｢What about that ‘Information Function Body’ you mentioned before? Maybe it knows something.｣

[ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Information Function Body?)]

｢I don’t know whether it’s trustworthy or not but its connection to the Seventh is undeniable.｣

True enough.

It was after following its words that I’d fallen into Beom-Ho’s trap. And Beom-Ho himself had clearly known of it, too. A link existed between them.

‘The problem is I have no way to summon it.’

I’d entered cocoons several times during trait fusions, but it had never appeared. Perhaps it only came if it chose to, or if other hidden conditions were met.

She knew that as well. And yet she brought it up because she had a reason.

[ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (You think this time will be different?)]

｢Yes. Once you gain one more trait, your Cosmic Monster type rises to the next stage, doesn’t it? Perhaps then it will finally appear.｣

I had thought as much myself. But the cost had always kept me from acting the risk of losing the Faceworms’ memories stored inside me.

‘But a new trait is the key here.’

Would I simply acquire it, and nothing more? Or would I evolve to the next stage? A coin flip, the outcome unknown.

While I weighed the choice, she waited silently, patient for my decision.

At last, I chose.

[ZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ (I’ll enter the cocoon again.)]

｢Good. Meanwhile, I’ll see what further aid the residents can provide.｣

Together, we left the Gigacracker for White Stone.

｢Good luck.｣

Through ice and cold I made my way underground, until I had traveled far enough to nest and prepare safely.

There, at the bottom of a frozen pit devoid of heat or life, I began my evolution.

｢‘Transcendence’ Ingredient List (New!): Parasitic Humanoid Host, Hive Parasite, Predatory Nest, Zombie Fly, Horror Stalker｣

｢Do you wish to use the Transcendence System?｣

‘Confirm.’

Black ichor seeped from between my scales and plates, steaming as it struck the frozen ground. My body and mind unraveled, dissolving into threads that sank into the cocoon.

The process was the same as always or so it seemed.

When I opened my eyes, I was standing again.

Before me stretched an endless black plain, barren, without light or color. I knew it well. I had come here three times before.

And across from me stood the figure I had half-hoped, half-feared to see—

A being shaped like my ‘real-world self’, yet utterly other. The long-absent Information Function Body, at last revealing itself.

“Long time no see.”

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[Translator – Seraph]

[Proofreader – Draxx]

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