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Chapter 152

“Good. The defense systems of the ship are still inactive.”

[Conzay? Visible? I’ve never seen a ship using this kind of bio-metal.]

Six cyborgs synchronized with walkers stepped into the mysterious ship. When they breached the door, they didn’t know, but once inside, they could tell that this ship was anything but ordinary.

Apart from the fact that both the outer surface and inner walls of the ship were pitch black, it seemed similar to a standard cult escort vessel. However, when examined with the biosignal detection module attached to the walker, entirely different results emerged.

Faint life responses throughout the ship, warmth reminiscent of biological tissue, and unusually humid air for a spaceship – all deviated from the characteristics of a typical ship.

“The cult developing such metal is bizarre.”

“Obtained from Outspacer?”

“We have time, let’s examine it carefully.”

Although the ship’s interior was unexpectedly different, the cyborgs were not concerned. The walker they boarded was a heavily armored combat exosuit, the ‘Sentinel’ model. With an integrated reinforced shield, it was powerful enough to combat the cult warrior unit.

Not intended for weapons on a regular cargo ship, these walkers were all provided by the Star Union’s Population Management Department to ensure smooth cargo transportation. They also came equipped with small drones and various weapons to support combat. While it might be challenging to achieve a complete victory against the cult warriors, defeat was certainly not an option.

Nevertheless, the heavily armed cyborgs, led by MacF, scattered exploration drones. Small spherical drones flew along the ship’s corridors, disappearing into the interior.

According to V’s analysis, the ship carried over 700 tons of cargo. Given that the cult boarding a ship of a similar class numbered 200, more than three times the personnel had boarded this ship.

With many people on board, it wouldn’t take long to discover.

Just then, exploration drones began sending images of the hull from all directions. Examining the slowly forming interior map, they proceeded further inside.

“Hey, MacF. Take a look at this.”

“What is it?”

“Looks like some kind of plant.”

Completely black, they couldn’t recognize it at first. It was only when a fellow cyborg pointed it out that MacF realized there were vine-like structures or stems covering the corridor.

“V checked it against the Starlink database, but there’s no matching biological information.”

“Not from Outspacer either. What is this?”

“I’ll collect a sample for now.”

Using the work arm attached to the walker, the cyborg tore off the vines attached to the corridor. From the torn stems, black mucus flowed down.

“…Luckily, it’s a sealed walker. If it were a light walker, it might have been toast.”

“Did you modify it all the way to the internals?”

“It might just vomit oil profusely.”

“Stop talking nonsense. Once collected, let’s move on.”

“Yeah, just register it in the database.”

Thus, they collected information while moving. The corridor gradually narrowed, and the walker’s head barely touched the ceiling.

Yet, there was no sign of the cult. So far, the only living things they had seen were vines and seemingly impure spores.

But that wasn’t the only strange thing.

“Next, to the right… huh?”

“Why?”

“There should be a fork in the road here.”

“What are you talking about? It’s a straight line here.”

“The map is a bit strange. Everyone check.”

Following MacF’s words, they checked the maps created by the six exploration drones. The virtual maps they saw surprised them.

“The maps are different!”

If the ship’s structure changes in real-time, could this happen? None of the six drone-created maps had a single matching section.

“Is there a problem with the drones? Perhaps they’ve been affected by radio interference.”

“Then it shouldn’t cause malfunctions like this.”

“Conzay, did you see? The situation is strange.”

“Well… for now, let’s return to the ship…”

Upon hearing Conzay’s words, the cyborgs attempted to retreat, but the ship suddenly shook.

“What’s happening?”

“Hey, Conzay. What’s going on?”

“The ship is moving, creaking, attention, creaking…”

“Conzay? Conzay… ugh!”

“Ugh?!”

As a powerful noise echoed from the linked walker’s receiver, the cyborgs hastily blocked communication. Despite MacF rebooting the communication system to contact Conzay, only static was heard.

“Darn, it seems like the communication system is fried.”

While communication between the walkers remained intact, communication with the cargo ship was lost. No contact with the cargo ship, a bizarrely structured ship, and not a soul in sight—only strange pods and stems filling the corridors.

Emotions locked away in the cyborgs’ minds began to surface, emotions with the name of fear.

“Everyone, stay calm. Let’s return to the shuttle.”

The cyborgs started retracing their steps. MacF took the lead to reassure his uneasy companions.

The heavy sounds of walker footsteps echoed through the corridor. Each step made the black tendrils extending from the ship’s structure quiver, as if alive. Though it was unlikely, MacF couldn’t help but think that the ship resembled a living organism, digesting the cyborgs already inside.

‘What a nonsensical thought.’

MacF forcefully dismissed the emerging thought. In times like these, one must stay focused.

However, cruel reality mercilessly trampled on his efforts.

“Damn, what is this?!”

“….”

Instead of the straight path they took before, a crossroads awaited them. One panicking cyborg shouted curses.

MacF even considered disconnecting from the synchronized walker, thinking he must have seen it wrong. But to his dismay, the crossroads still lay before them.

“Darn, what do we do?”

“Try the exploration drones again…”

“Yeah, as if it won’t change again!”

“Calm down! Instead of complaining, how about breaking through the wall?”

“Break the wall?”

“Thanks to the Sentinel’s oxygen supply function, we can survive in space. We can walk outside and make our way to the shuttle.”

Though risky, it was not a bad idea. At least it seemed better than navigating the constantly changing ship interior.

The muzzle of the storm gun attached to the walker was aimed at the corridor wall. A barrage of firepower poured onto the alloy wall.

When the tendrils and pods attached to the wall turned into charred debris, a large hole appeared. Inside the hole, a new corridor awaited them. Despite the uncertainty, the cyborgs pressed on.

‘Damn, whether you win or we win, let’s find out.’

After breaking the wall several times, they finally reached the outer wall of the expected ship.

“Just need to get out here!”

“Alright!”

The depleted uranium rounds in the magazine carried the cyborgs’ hopes and pierced into the wall.

They shot and breached until the storm gun overheated, forcibly stopping the firing. Only then were they able to step outside.

However, the scene beyond the outer wall was different from what they had imagined.

“What?”

The first thing they saw was the hull of a ship. A long, rectangular shape shimmering in the dim light, a familiar form of a ship. It was their cargo ship.

That cargo ship was now torn apart. A massive claw floated through space, meticulously tearing the cargo ship to shreds.

Countless containers from the cargo ship spilled out into space. Long, serpent-like tentacles resembling snakes harvested the debris floating around.

Witnessing the scene, all the cyborgs had the same thought.

The cargo ship they came on was now being devoured by this transformed monster of a ship.

***

‘Indeed, as expected, there are clear advantages and disadvantages.’

The debris of a ship, torn in half, floated before me.

The supply ship, many times larger than the escort ship I controlled, had been completely demolished by claws over tens of meters long.

‘Though the destructive power is unparalleled compared to normal conditions…’

There is a significant drawback.

When claws or harvesters were created on the outer walls of the ship, the movement speed decreased. Also, the implemented body parts moved considerably slower.

If the other ship wasn’t a regular one but a combat warship, or if I had reacted a bit faster when approaching, it would have been impossible to tear it apart so easily.

‘The enhancement of Number 26 comes in handy at times like this.’

Number 26, powered by the energy of sea demons, had become immensely powerful. Moreover, the cult escort ship I controlled was made of moonsilver alloy, enhancing the effects of the psychic power.

Thanks to these two conditions, Number 26 could showcase new strength.

‘An EMP created by psychic power.’

Number 26 concentrated psychic power at specific points to create an area that disabled electronic devices. Although EMP technology existed in games, all of them were untraceable.

Thus, Number 26’s technique of only disabling the supply ship’s systems could be considered his original technique.

‘It may take a few minutes, but…’

I had enough time to approach the supply ship.

They tried to keep their distance when they saw the giant jaws and claws forming on the escort ship I controlled, but by then, it was too late. As the supply ship retreated, it got caught in my jaws, and its hull was torn apart.

‘I’d like to fight like this during fleet battles.’

If the opponent is a small group, it seems like it would be easy to handle this way.

Of course, when facing dozens of ships in a fleet battle, it would be impossible to resolve it with psychic whirlpools alone, so other methods would have to be devised.

‘Still, it’s convenient to have something to eat.’

The massive jaws protruding from the front of the escort ship swallowed all the cargo containers pouring from the broken ship. The jaws, made of moonsilver alloy and organic tissue, crushed the containers and absorbed their contents.

In an instant, hundreds of genetic essences seeped into my body, and multiple text boxes announcing the effects of predation appeared. Since they had entered frozen capsules in an anesthetized state, they wouldn’t have felt any fear or pain.

‘But it won’t be like that for everyone.’

There are those who desperately try to escape from me and those who oppose me. They will find it difficult to meet their ends peacefully.

Several shuttles and numerous combat drones emerged from the exploding ship. Combat drones equipped with lightweight storm guns showered me with bullets.

Meanwhile, the shuttles tried to flee. They must have been trying to escape while the drones served as decoys.

‘I can’t let them escape.’

Dozens of erosion tendrils surged from the hull synchronized with my body. Like a snake with hundreds of heads from mythology, multiple tendrils attached themselves to the shuttles’ tails.

The shuttles struggled to escape by any means necessary. However, there were too many tendrils covering them.

In the end, not a single shuttle managed to escape and all were caught by me.

Long and thin erosion tendrils wrapped around the shuttles and smashed the alloy glass encasing the control seats. Then, they tore apart the shuttles along with the cyborgs connected to them.

A small female cyborg, as small as distant stars, screams. In the vastness of space, no sound could be heard, but it was easy to guess she was pleading for her life or admitting a mistake.

‘I’m sorry, but I can’t allow that.’

They targeted me first in the first place. If I were weak, they would have tried to kill me from their end. They made the wrong choice in the wrong place.

So, the cyborgs who boarded the shuttles became nutrients for the erosion tendrils one by one.

‘Hmm?’

At that moment, I felt someone’s gaze.

I diverted my attention from the debris of the supply ship, checking what was happening inside and outside the ship.

‘When did they show up again?’

Six walkers that had infiltrated my body tore through my side and observed the results I created. Although their expressions were hidden behind heavily armored walkers, they must have been quite surprised.

‘Should I deal with them too?’

I commanded the erosion tendrils near them to capture all the walkers.

“■■■! ■■ ■■!”

“■■ ■!”

The walkers, seeing the approaching erosion tendrils, recoiled and crawled into my body. Only one walker at the back couldn’t avoid my tendrils and got caught.

“■ ■■ ■■■! ■■!”

The struggling walker caught by the tendrils tried to cut them with the storm gun attached to its arm, but it was futile resistance. There were plenty of erosion tendrils besides that one.

The resisting walker was eventually torn apart by the tendrils, and its entire body was devoured.

‘There are five left.’

I could change the ship’s structure and crush them all, but I decided not to.

‘One or two of them could be useful as informants.’

I had received enough information from the cultists. Introducing them to some new friends wouldn’t hurt.

‘Since Adhai seems to be bored.’

Adhai spent his time occasionally assisting with route settings besides playing with 26 and doing hunting training with the Mother of the Sky. Thanks to her teachings, Adhai became much more proficient in using ‘hyperspeed’ and ‘purple lightning’.

‘Shall I leave it to Adhai this time?’

I sent a wave of my will to him and focused on predation again.

Even as the supply lines emptied, the universe remained silent without a single sound.