Thick smoke blanketed the sky. Five fighters armed with stormguns flew in formation, piercing through the clouds.
Below them lay a sea of fire. An unprecedented inferno was engulfing Prime Head, the core city of Zax-01.
Soaring above the flame-engulfed city, the fighters lowered their altitude. The stormguns mounted beneath their hulls aimed their muzzles toward the ground.
Their targets were the blood-colored giants striding between burning buildings -monsters that looked as though living flesh and corpses had been mashed together. They were among the culprits behind this horrifying catastrophe.
The stormguns mounted on the fighters unleashed a massive volley of depleted uranium rounds all at once. One of the blood-colored giants collapsed under the rain of bullets.
At that, the giants halted. The masks covering their upper bodies shifted, looking up toward the sky.
Having finished their attack, the fighters pulled up to gain altitude. Just then, a pure-white flying creature broke through the clouds and pounced on them.
A horn enveloped in purple light pierced the wing of the lead fighter. A white tail reminiscent of a marble pillar struck the front of another fighter following closely behind.
In an instant, two fighters crashed, and the remaining fighters scattered in all directions. Suddenly, the flying creature, a White Galagon, gave chase to the fleeing fighters.
With their attackers gone, the blood-colored giants resumed their march. Even the giant whose entire body had been shredded regenerated back to normal and trailed behind them.
Currently, only two places in Prime Head remained untouched by the raging flames: the pyramid at the city center and the automated truck maintenance depot on the outskirts of the industrial district.
The blood-colored giants-or rather, the 'Clowns' controlled by 'Masquerade'—targeted the latter.
Though the Clowns likely had no idea, those inside the maintenance depot did not belong to the Star Union. They were called the 'Order'-those who served five beings of immense power.
The commonplace maintenance depot had been completely fortified by the Order. Within it, the Order was locked in a fierce battle against the demonic legion.
"Enemy reinforcements spotted at the intersection! At least ten of them!"
A Coldblood rapidly firing a stormgun from atop the maintenance building shouted.
"Tane and the Hunters will handle the intersection. Focus on defense."
"Understood!"
"The bastards from downtown breached the barricade again!"
"The green-scaled Rekalhai is on standby. I'll request a bombardment, so tell everyone to pull back."
"Yes, ma'am!"
In the makeshift command post set up on the rooftop, Coldbloods belonging to the Order bustled about. At the center stood the copper-colored Coldblood, Hasazar.
"Stormguns five and eight will overheat soon. While the reserve squad swaps them out, Squad Six, please provide cover."
"Understood!"
Even amidst the chaotic melee, Hasazar's leadership was superb. The Order members in the depot and the Galagons brought by the Great Beings moved in unison as if they were a single body.
If not for that, they wouldn't have been able to hold off the overwhelming horde of Clowns.
Yet Hasazar's own expression was grim. Keeping her tense gaze fixed on the battlefield, she flicked her long, slender tongue over her lips.
"Hasazar. The enemy's numbers keep growing."
Her aide and mate, a male Coldblood, voiced his concern.
"Half of the secured ammunition has already been spent."
"...That's faster than expected."
"I'll take a detachment and scavenge for more ammo."
"No. We don't know when they will arrive. Let's hold out as best as we can."
Splitting up now would only increase the risk of being picked off individually. Their sole mission was survival-to stay alive and wait until the Great Beings arrived.
"Besides, we've already secured all the weapons and ammunition in the vicinity. To find more, we'd have to head to another sector-"
"E-Enemy spotted in the sky!"
Just before Hasazar could finish her sentence, someone cried out in a screeching voice. At the same moment, Hasazar spotted it too: a blood-colored giant hurtling through the sky toward the rooftop.
An enemy incapable of flight had hurled one of its own.
With every Galagon capable of intercepting it deployed outside, the Clown crashed onto the rooftop completely unimpeded.
Though its entire body was pulverized from the impact of the fall, the enemy possessed regenerative abilities. It wouldn't die unless the masks on its upper body were destroyed.
The Clown slowly pushed itself up on its regenerating legs, reaching out to seize a nearby stormgun gunner.
Just then, flames surged behind the Clown. Fire erupted out of thin air, and from within the blaze sprang a black wolf clamping a golden short spear in its jaws.
"Grrr! Bark!"
"Tane?"
Transformed into a pitch-black beast, the Wolf Tane clung to the Clown's back. Before the enemy could react, she thrust the short spear into its masks in rapid succession. As the masks shattered, the giant's regenerating body began to collapse.
In a final, desperate struggle, the Clown swung its arm to swat Tane away. The moment the arm struck, the wolf's form wavered like a mirage before scattering into smoke.
The black smoke hugging the floor coalesced at another spot and erupted into a massive burst of flame. Just as before, the black wolf emerged through the fire.
Unable to follow up with another attack, the Clown collapsed entirely. The golden short spear that had pierced the masks embedded itself deeply into the puddle of bloody remains.
Having dispatched the enemy, Tane reverted to her Wolf form-a young Wolf girl with the head of a jackal covered in dark gray fur.
She retrieved her spear and bowed her head to Hasazar.
"I'm sorry for disobeying orders, Ms. Hasazar. Something urgent came up that I had to report..."
"No. Thanks to you, we averted major damage. More importantly, what is this urgent report?"
"Yes! The intersection has been breached."
"...The intersection?"
At this unexpected news, Hasazar's face hardened.
"The monsters' numbers surged so fast that they packed the entire street. We tried our best to hold out, but my friends got injured, so..."
"Don't tell me you came alone because the Hunters were wiped out?"
"No. I saw the monsters aiming for the rooftop, so I came ahead."
"Multiple enemies spotted coming from the intersection! At least dozens-no, hundreds of them!"
Just as the stormgun gunner said, an enormous number of Clowns was surging toward them. There were so many that it looked like a tidal wave made of blood crashing forward.
In front of the army of blood-colored giants were various beasts. Carrying the wounded Wolves on their backs, they were fleeing at full speed to escape the Clowns.
"Tane! Help the Hunters!"
"Yes!"
"All gunners, concentrate your firepower toward the intersection!"
"Hasazar! More enemies incoming!"
Hasazar's mate pointed to the sky. Dozens of Clowns were hurtling through the air toward them.
A couple might be manageable, but dozens were simply too many. If they reached the rooftop, there would be no stopping them.
At that moment of dire crisis, the rooftop shook violently.
"A-An earthquake?"
"Look at that!"
Before the eyes of the Order members struggling to stay on their feet upon the violently swaying building, a bizarre spectacle unfolded.
The barricades erected near the maintenance depot shot into the sky like rockets, slamming into the incoming Clowns to intercept them.
At the same time, the Wolves and beasts sprinting toward the depot rose into the air. Unlike the barricades, they glided smoothly as if riding an invisible slide, landing safely before the maintenance depot.
"Could this be...?"
"Lady No. 26!"
Along with Tane's cry, the doors of the maintenance depot swung open. From within, the Angel Spider and No. 26 emerged.
"Scary faces bad! Bullying the Order! Good people hurt!"
Click, clack.
Sensing the situation outside from within the building, No. 26 was furious. Matching the pink jellyfish's mood, the Angel Spider clashed its chelicerae, making rough clicks.
"Rage! Very angry!"
Snap.
No sooner had No. 26 finished speaking than her pink body expanded at a staggering pace. Soon, she grew so colossal that she looked down not only on the depot, but on every building in the district.
It wasn't just her size that changed; her appearance did too. Her body, once resembling a small balloon, morphed into a massive hemisphere, while assorted eyeballs churned and flowed like liquid across her skin.
Beneath her body, countless tentacles and fins dangled, writhing restlessly.
A colossal white halo hovered around her body. Woven from countless intertwined hands, the ring appeared as though it were worshipping the being at its center.
A transcendent being where the unholy and the sacred coexisted. This was another face of No. 26, the most merciful mother in the Order.
"Everyone, bow your heads and shield your eyes!"
Seeing No. 26 complete her transformation, Hasazar urgently barked out orders.
In that form, No. 26 was perilous to behold. Anyone who drew too close or looked directly at her would lose their sanity.
While all the Order members covered their eyes, No. 26 rose into the air carrying the Angel Spider. At the appearance of a flying entity so gargantuan it could be seen from kilometers away, even the Clowns ground to a halt.
Ascending high enough to overlook the entire host of Clowns, No. 26 slowly raised her tentacles. From their tips, beams of translucent purple light burst forth.
The thread-like beams intertwined and fused into a single net, expanding swiftly toward the ground.
The final result was a translucent dome measuring a full kilometer in diameter. Shimmering with a faint purple luster, the dome cleanly enveloped the street near the intersection where the Clown army was concentrated.
"Prepared it like bubble wrap! Scary faces all die!"
Click, clack.
As soon as No. 26 made her declaration, the dome began to shrink.
Buildings and vehicles touching the translucent purple barrier were shoved aside without offering the slightest resistance. The same went for structures built along the roadway.
One of the blood-colored giants rammed the barrier to break through, but it was the Clown's body that was wrecked. The barrier advanced relentlessly.
Only then did the demonic minions realize they were in mortal danger. They rampaged furiously to break the wall. The Clowns outside the dome joined in, attacking the barrier as well.
The resistance from both inside and outside amounted to nothing. Like a compactor swallowing trash, the dome ruthlessly crushed everything trapped within.
Before long, the Clowns' furious roars turned into terrified shrieks. Yet even those screams did not last long.
When the dome shrank to a width of ten meters, it vanished. The contents inside retained their compact shape, compressed to the extreme.
No. 26 touched down lightly upon the wasteland that had been an intersection just minutes prior. Then, unfolding her body, she swallowed the pitch-black, compressed mass whole.
"Tired. But tummy full! Very good."
Snap.
The Clowns that had avoided being trapped in the dome did not dare charge at No. 26 even after she descended to the ground.
Having lost a massive number of slaves in an instant, their master issued a new command: retreat immediately.
Every Clown in the industrial district receded like the ebbing tide. The street outside the depot fell silent in an instant.
"Is it... over?"
Although the threat to their lives was gone, none of the Order members rejoiced.
Whether it was the Wolf slaves witnessing No. 26 wield her power for the first time, or Hasazar and Tane who knew her well, they all shared the exact same sentiment.
It was awe-the sheer reverence an insignificant speck feels before magnificent nature.
And that awe soon shifted into a profound sense of security. A transcendent being of overwhelming power was protecting them. That steadfast conviction was etched deeply into the hearts of the Order members.
"Scary faces gone. Order stable? Safe!"
"Praise be to the mate of the Great One."
"We give thanks for your boundless and infinite mercy."
"Thank you, Goddess."
"Order safe. Kept promise to Big Baby! Very good!"
Snap.
Naturally, No. 26 merely beamed with a 'bright smile', as she always did.
-x-X-x-
Even in an era where traversing star systems has become effortless, one thing remains unchanged.
To reach a desired destination, one still needs a means of transportation.
Whether for a sightseer enjoying a journey or an army targeting enemy lines, the rule applies equally. Spaceships equipped with Faster-Than-Light Navigation technology are an absolute necessity of this era. Naturally, ship performance is a matter of universal concern.
Then, which ship is truly superior?
It is a frequent question, but the answer varies every time, as the criteria for performance differ.
Some prioritize firepower, while others prefer vessels with high cargo capacity. For the Cult, Psychic Power compatibility cannot be ignored.
Still, there is one factor that many universally single out as crucial: speed.
Although FTL Engines are used on nearly every spaceship, they are hardly all-powerful.
It takes time for the engine to activate and execute a jump. Massive amounts of energy are consumed in the process. Continuous jumps without rest are virtually impossible. During these times, a ship must rely on its propulsion systems.
Consequently, propulsion systems play a significant role in a ship's movement. In urgent situations like combat, their importance surges even higher. A fast ship holds immense value, regardless of its purpose.
In this universe, the faction that primarily builds fast ships is the Cult Empire. Having the longest history of space expansion, it has accumulated a wealth of shipbuilding know-how.
However, the fastest ship does not belong to the Empire. It is not even known which faction built it. Word of it is merely passed down covertly among the Space Dogs.
Its name is the 'Wandering Ghost.' One of the unique-grade ships, it boasts the greatest speed in the universe.
That legendary Pirate Ship had now appeared in Star Union territory.
In the void surrounding Zax-01, ships large and small were tangled in a chaotic melee. Between them, a single ship darted back and forth with utter freedom.
In size, it was slightly smaller than a small Corvette, its exterior flat and broad, resembling a giant manta ray. Attached to its dull, ashen hull plating were golden decorations shaped like animal bones. It was truly a ghost ship draped in symbols of death.
Dozens of ships fiercely pursued the Wandering Ghost. Various torpedoes launched from Warships tightened around their target like fishing nets closing in on fish.
Yet neither torpedoes nor ships could touch the ghost. The Wandering Ghost was simply too fast.
Even ships equipped with the highest-grade scanners could barely track its movements. The rest merely chased after the ghost's afterimages.
A vessel that had suddenly appeared, rampaging like an apparition. It looked like a genuine ghost ship, but it, too, had a Captain.
It was the Mother of the Sky, a Wolf harboring various Phantom Beasts within her body, including a Gryphon.
[....]
Seated in the cockpit, her eyes and hands moved briskly. She had no moment to rest as she read the data projected onto multiple panels and holograms and reacted accordingly.
Currently, she was in the process of eliminating a core element of Zax-01's planetary defense system: Prometheus, the Superweapon capable of manipulating fleet jumps at will.
'A total of four Prometheus units destroyed so far. It would be nice if this were the end, but...'
Normally, two or three units were stationed at the Star Union's strategic strongholds. In the case of the star system where Capital Planet Zax-01 belonged, as many as six had once been deployed.
'Come to think of it, Amorph was also the cause behind the incident where six were deployed.'
There was a famous incident known in the community as the "Ruin of the Stars." It was the event where Rank 5 Amorph invaded Zax-01 for the third time.
The scale of that war could truly be called a cosmic world war. Not only Rankers affiliated with the Star Union, but also Players of other races who had been tricked by Amorph came swarming into the fray.
At the time, the Mother of the Sky had participated as a Mercenary on the Star Union's side. Thus, she had experienced firsthand the sheer chaos Amorph wrought.
'If Rank 1 hadn't been there back then, the Star Union's capital would have changed.'
Because Rank 1, who was tasked with defending Zax-01, mounted an impregnable defense using six Prometheus units, the Star Union had been able to emerge victorious.
Ironically, she was now the invader. What was more, she was even on the same side as Amorph.
'...They were the ones who started it.'
Considerable time had passed, but the Mother of the Sky had not forgotten.
The fact that the Supreme Leader had played no small part in the death of her beloved husband and sanctuary, the 'Father of the Earth.'
Until that grudge was settled, she could never stand alongside the Star Union.
As she briefly recalled past memories, her eyes caught a new target. A signal for Prometheus popped up from a Space Fortress near a satellite of Zax-01.
'The original model again.'
Previously, she and Amorph had seized an upgraded Prometheus. Quite some time had passed since then. They should have succeeded in mass-producing it long ago, yet there was no sign of it whatsoever.
'Zax-01 is being devastated, yet they aren't deploying it. No, could it be that they can't?'
Whatever the case, her task remained the same. The Mother of the Sky pressed a few buttons and pushed the control stick forward. The Wandering Ghost accelerated explosively.
The enemy signals crowding every direction vanished in an instant. Even the fastest missiles in the Star Union fell woefully short of catching up to the ghost ship.
The satellite of Zax-01 displayed on the holographic map drew close in the blink of an eye. The Space Fortress guarding the satellite was just preparing to fire Prometheus.
'Where are the escort forces?'
Prometheus lacked armaments of its own. An escort fleet always accompanied it.
Sure enough, bright red dots began mushrooming around the Space Fortress. There were so many that the entire holographic map seemed dyed crimson.
'Not ships. Mines?'
They were mines capable of easily tearing through a Battleship's outer hull. The Space Fortress and Prometheus were hidden deep within the densely laid minefield.
'Daring me to enter if I can, are they?'
Even ships clad in top-tier armor and shields could not last long in there. It would be all the worse for the Wandering Ghost, whose defense itself was not particularly high. A single contact with a mine would spell the end.
[Fine.]
Yet the Mother of the Sky chose to charge rather than retreat. Piloting the ghost ship, she plunged into the minefield without hesitation.
The gap between the mines was a mere few meters. Utilizing its flat hull, the legendary ghost ship slipped right through that narrow opening.
There were a few moments along the way where she nearly touched a mine, but each time, she angled the hull precisely to avoid a collision. Even through all that, her speed barely dropped.
Though the enemies who laid the mines did not know it, the being they were dealing with was no ordinary Pilot.
In the Space Survival community, an annual tournament was held to select the Players with the best flying or piloting skills. The top three performers in that tournament were dubbed 'Battlestar Aces.'
The Mother of the Sky was one of those Battlestar Aces-and an elite one at that, having emerged erged victorious in both flight technique and piloting prowess. That was how she could push the unique-grade ship's performance to its absolute limits.
The Wandering Ghost breached the minefield in an instant and reached the Space Fortress. The ship's cameras captured Prometheus moving to disperse warp particles. Having confirmed her target, the Mother of the Sky firmly pressed the firing button on her control stick.
The bone decorations covering the hull's plating parted, revealing a multi-caliber naval cannon resembling a pipe organ from within.
The cannon mounted on the Wandering Ghost was a shipboard version of the Cult's heavy weapon, the 'Demolisher.' While the single-shot power was identical, this one fired multiple rounds in rapid succession. Its practical firepower was substantially higher.
The pipe-organ battery rotated and fired indigo Energy Shells. The matter-disintegrating shells mercilessly melted away Prometheus's outer hull.
The Ghost penetrated inside the gaping hole and poured out all the firepower it had to its heart's content. Blast bulkheads stood throughout the interior, but they quickly collapsed. The vital facilities behind them met the same fate.
'That makes five.
Having neutralized the Superweapon, she leisurely made her escape from the area.
Upon emerging outside, the Space Fortress's Fighter squadron was waiting for her. The fortress's defensive installations also aimed their gun ports at her.
Just as the Fortress Cannons were about to spit fire, a violent explosion erupted behind the Fighters. A single strand of crimson thread shot forward, skewering the Fighters.
[Just now][Prey] [Mine] [Why] [Steal?]
The identity of the crimson light was Adhai, who had been tasked with the Prometheus interception mission alongside the Mother of the Sky. Having effortlessly demolished the Fighter squadron, the Red Galagon landed atop the hull plating.
[You already took out three of the five. This is only my second one, so what's wrong with taking it?]
[Numbers][Irrelevant][Stealing][Bad]
A bombardment from the Fortress Cannons rained down on the two enemies, the Galagon and the ghost ship. The Mother of the Sky engaged in evasive maneuvers while conversing via Telepathic Wave.
[Stealing? You're the one who was late, so don't go blaming others.]
[Deny][Enemy][Nest][Strange power][Checked] [Late]
[A strange power? Don't tell me there was a Prometheus on the surface?]
[Deny][Strange power] [Enemy] [Unrelated] [Before] [Little Adult][Used]
[Remember]
[Not Amorph, but No. 26's power?]
The No. 26 she knew was certainly no ordinary Sea Demon. Still, she wasn't someone who could wield power on a scale that could be detected from outside the planet.
[Furthermore, she used it before...? When?]
[Past][Back then][Different][Now] [Much] [Much][Stronger!]
[...]
There was no way to confirm what had happened from out here. However, it was certain that a situation severe enough to demand the unleashing of such immense power had occurred.
[Can you still feel that power?]
[Feeling][None]
Adhai shook her head in denial. At that, the Mother of the Sky felt conflicted. The situation on the surface might have improved, but the opposite could just as well be true.
While she was debating whether to go rescue No. 26 right away, a small notification window popped up at the bottom of the panel. It was the notification window that appeared whenever incoming transmissions arrived from outside.
'What's this?'
The message was short, but it contained everything the Gryphon Wolf desired.
[Friend][Power] [Feeling][Maintain][Need?]
[...No. More importantly, good news and bad news just came in.]
[?]
As soon as she checked the contents, she pulled the control stick to turn the ghost ship around. Before its bow lay Planet Zax-01, surrounded by ashen smog.
[The good news first. Isabel's plan succeeded. She says there's no need to worry about Prometheus anymore, so we should head down.]
[Young child] [Sick Child][All][Okay?]
[Yeah. Everyone is safe.]
At this, Adhai hopped with joy atop the ship.
[Young child][Family][Regained!][Joy!]
[Hey, hey! It's great that you're happy, but don't jump! You'll scratch the hull!]
[Good thing][Heard][Bad thing][What is it?]
[The bad news is...]
A massive fleet blocked them as they attempted to descend toward Zax-01. They were reinforcements dispatched from other planets and Space Fortresses.
[That we have to clear away some troublesome obstacles first.]
[Obstacles][Hunting] [Good thing][Isn't it?]
[Well, I suppose you could look at it that way depending on your perspective.]
Adhai stepped off the ghost ship and enveloped her body in 'Red Armor.' The Mother of the Sky also tightened her grip on the control stick.
The Galagon's amethyst-like eyes and the Gryphon's amber eyes gleamed ominously. Though their species differed, the emotion dwelling within their eyes was identical: the fighting spirit of a Predator.
[Let's clean this up quickly and head down.]
[Agree]
The Dragon Queen and the legendary Pilot had made their decision. No one could stop them-not even a massive fleet or a Space Fortress.
-x-X-x-
Beyond the red dust cloud, the metal giant moved.
The armor plating on its shield-less left arm split open, and the left hand detached, crashing to the ground. From the wrist, with its internal mechanisms laid bare, a new weapon emerged to fill the vacancy.
Shaped like an inverted spider with a circular intake inside, the weapon bore a striking resemblance to the Star Union's unique-grade weapon, the 'Blood Reaver.'
'Except for the fact that its scale has been blown up enormously, that is.'
[•][•]
Masquerade's clones, which had been clinging to the giant robot before being thrown off, shrieked. Conjuring bio-spears in their grips, they charged at the machine.
The robot did not dodge, thrusting its left arm toward the demons instead. The super-sized Blood Reaver clamped down onto a clone's bio-spear.
[Krrk]
In an instant, the demon holding the bio-spear lost its shape and collapsed. Only a massive blob of red jelly remained where it had stood.
A Vortex One's body is composed of two things: the core organic matter produced from an 'Abyssal Core,' and the 'Power of the Abyss,' the energy that binds and sustains it.
Stripped of that energy, only a meager clump of organic matter was left behind. It would stay in that state until energy was replenished.
[•]
Another clone flanked around to the opposite side of the Blood Reaver and pounced on the giant robot.
Without making any hasty moves, I watched their fight unfold.
'So it didn't just grow in size; its capabilities got upgraded too, huh?'
The original weapon cannot absorb unanalyzed, unknown energies like the Power of the Abyss or 'Dragon Power.' The Blood Reaver mounted on this giant robot had bypassed that limitation.
'Looks like it can only absorb it, though, without actually utilizing it.'
I didn't see its movements speed up or its output increase after siphoning the clone's power.
'It's formidable, but not enough to turn the tide of battle.'
Although the Blood Reaver is a potent weapon, its limitations are clear. That is why it is typically used for ambushes or as a secondary weapon in close-quarters combat.
Right now, the giant robot had lost both its energy blade and its shield. Trying to wage close-quarters combat relying solely on the Blood Reaver was an act of folly.
'Is it trying to hold out until reinforcements arrive?'
Fleeing at this point wouldn't be easy either. Out in the atmosphere and beyond the planet, the Galagons, Adhai, and the Mother of the Sky were running rampant.
From the Supreme Leader's perspective, deciding the battle right here was the best option.
'If it doesn't run, all the better for me.'
It had been about ten minutes since I transformed into the 'Avatar of the Hunt.' Since I had to fight Masquerade as well, time wasn't on my side. The sooner I wrapped this up, the better.
'To do that, I have to destroy the robot's control system.'
Even without its shield, the giant robot's inherent defense was formidable. Rather than just beating it down, targeting its vital components was far more efficient.
'The problem is figuring out where that vital component is.'
Looking at Walkers, the cockpit is usually situated in the center. Smashing the entire cockpit or sabotaging the connector linked to the pilot neutralizes them.
Like a Walker, this giant robot ought to have a cockpit with a pilot inside, or at least a control module.
The difference was that its build resembled a human's. Because the central area was so vast, there was no telling where the controls were situated.
'Whichever section houses the control system must be especially heavily armored.'
From the look of it, the chest boasted the thickest armor. It was also spacious enough to accommodate the controls and key systems with room to spare.
However, this giant robot was the Supreme Leader's prized trump card. A weakness wouldn't be placed in such an obvious spot.
'Other than there...'
In fact, there was one more place besides the chest capable of housing the control system.
The turret mounted on its back.
Unlike the wrist mechanism, the turret wasn't designed for delicate energy modulation. It had to withstand the process of converting massive amounts of energy into a black thermal beam and firing it. Naturally, it had to be extraordinarily durable.
Therefore, the inside of the turret was also a strong candidate for housing the control system.
'Then I'll see for myself.'
Right on cue, the giant robot seized the clone clinging to its back. The metallic giant slammed the demon to the ground and finished it off with the Blood Reaver.
Spreading my Wings, I took to the air. Soaring over the dust cloud conjured by Masquerade, I swooped down on my target.
The giant robot dodged with nimble movements. My head carapace and horns plunged into the ground.
Amid the spray of paved road debris and dust clouds, the giant robot swiftly thrust its left arm forward.
Twisting my serpentine body to dodge, I lashed my twin tails like whips. The Pincers on my right tail stabbed into the enemy's leg.
The giant robot's balance faltered heavily. Just as I moved to push it over, its upper torso spun 180 degrees. The super-sized Blood Reaver bore down on me.
'Not so fast!'
I countered with the Erosion Tentacles on my back. Six tentacles wrapped around the giant's left arm, binding it tight.
The Blood Reaver's Energy Absorption only functioned through direct contact. As long as it was pinned like this, it was useless.
Next, I aimed for the turret mounted on its back with my Center Head.
Teeth packed as densely as trees in a forest sank into the elongated gun barrel. Sparks flew with a deafening crash. Tiny tooth marks pitted the metal surface, but that was all.
As expected, it was far tougher than the energy blade generator. Normal attacks seemed pointless.
'Not that I'm completely out of options, though.'
There was a way to smash the turret's armor quickly-provided I was willing to take a considerable risk.
Just then, the giant robot drew its right arm far back, like drawing a bow. Armor protruded over its hand, encasing the fist in a rounded shell.
Next, blue fire erupted from behind its elbow. At the same time, its waist rotated, generating explosive momentum. Packed with terrifying speed and power, the fist slammed straight into my snout.
The impact was far heavier than expected-enough to loosen the grip of my jaws involuntarily. Perhaps because it channeled the energy meant for the energy blade, its destructive power was formidable.
Having struck me, the enemy backed away. The Erosion Tentacles gripping its left arm stretched taut. Raising its right hand, it moved to chop down at the tentacles.
[Grrr!]
Seeing this, the Right Head moved swiftly. With its elongated snout, it clamped down on the elbow booster.
Just as I attempted to coil my neck around its entire right arm, uninvited guests barged in.
[•][•][•]
It was the demons staging their 'Performance' and spreading the red dust clouds. Seeing us fighting outside the boundary of the dust clouds, they had come to attack.
Two of the three leaped onto my back and Wings, swinging their bio-spears. The remaining one approached the clones reduced to jelly blobs and infused them with energy.
[•][•][•]
The demons revived in an instant, alongside the one that had revived them, assaulted the metal giant. Knowing full well that the Blood Reaver was dangerous, they focused their attacks on its left arm. Naturally, my Erosion Tentacles holding that arm also became targets.
'Good.'
This was my chance to deceive the giant robot. I loosened the Right Head and my Erosion Tentacles as if dodging the bio-spear.
With both arms freed, the giant robot immediately swung its left arm toward my head. I instantly curled one of my Wings, raising it like a shield.
[Gk?!]
The clone clinging to my wing took the hit from the Blood Reaver in my stead. The demon couldn't even react properly before dissolving into a lump of slime. I violently shook my Wings to shed the remnants and soared upward.
[*]
[Grrr!]
The Right Head struck and knocked down the clone running wild across my back.
Even after shaking off the demon, I continued climbing in altitude.
'This should be high enough.'
The moment I halted my ascent, I detected a massive surge of energy from below. Sensing it, I banked sharply. A black thermal beam scorched past the tip of the Center Head's horn.
Realizing that the distance between us had widened, the giant robot began utilizing its turret. Exactly as I had hoped.
[Zzzzz zz zzz(Keep them from interrupting me)]
[Grrk]
Leaving the lookout duty to the Right Head, I focused on the Auxiliary Organ beneath my jaw.
Thanks to the Avatar of the Hunt, the Auxiliary Organ's capabilities had been dramatically enhanced. With even a sliver of concentration, it drank in information at an astonishing rate.
Thanks to that, I could clearly perceive what was unfolding far below. Maintaining my focus, I plunged into a steep dive.
A concentrated beam of power shot upward, punching a hole through my wing. My body wobbled for an instant, but I swiftly regained my balance.
[•]
[Grrrrr!]
The demon I had shaken off earlier returned to become a nuisance. At my request, the Right Head engaged it.
In the meantime, the ground rapidly drew near-close enough that if I had eyes, I could have made out the giant robot's silhouette.
The robot merely kept the attacking demons at bay while focusing on its marksmanship.
The robot's turret spewed a thermal beam once more. One of the Center Head's horns was struck by the beam and vaporized.
As the distance closed, its accuracy improved. The next shot was guaranteed to hit my head. Knowing this, the giant robot held its ground and prepared to fire again.
Instead of dodging, I accelerated even further.
Vast energy pooled near the giant robot's lower back, right on the verge of traveling into the cannon barrel.
The distance between us was now close enough that I could extend my neck and bite it. I could also channel my momentum to ram it with my head carapace.
Yet the option I chose was neither my head nor my neck, but my Erosion Tentacles. I shoved all my Erosion Tentacles into the cannon muzzle.
Simultaneously, the turret unleashed its charged energy. Or rather, tried to. The tentacles blocked the thermal beam's trajectory. Deprived of a path forward, the trapped power inevitably detonated on the spot.
The colossal shockwave produced by the explosion hurled me backward. My massive body was flung over a hundred meters before slamming into the ground.
My white carapace was charred black, and the membrane of my Wings was shredded into tatters. Three pairs of Erosion Tentacles were vaporized without a trace. It was by no means a light injury.
'Well, what I gained was far greater.'
Caught at the epicenter of the blast, the giant robot had suffered far worse damage than I had.
The cannon mounted on its back was utterly destroyed, and more than half of its heavily armored upper torso had been blown away. The arm equipped with the Blood Reaver was nowhere to be seen either.
The mangled giant robot slowly slumped down. A minor explosion erupted from its upper torso, and an object the size of a Transport Ship shot up into the sky.
[Grrr]
[Zzz zz zzzzz(Don't worry. It'll crash soon)]
The aircraft, which appeared to be an Escape Ship, was billowing thick black smoke from the moment it broke free of the robot. Clear proof that it had been caught in the explosion's aftermath.
Just as expected, the Escape Ship didn't make it far before crashing down.
'An Escape Ship? That's great news.'
If an Android had been piloting it, there would be no need to install an escape craft. The fact that one existed meant the giant robot's pilot was an extremely important figure.
In other words, the Supreme Leader was inside that malfunctioning Escape Ship.
[Grr, grrk?]
The moment the giant robot's defeat was confirmed, the Left Head awoke. Having suffered a fatal wound from the energy blade right at the start of the battle, it had been knocked out the entire time. Only now had it finally regained consciousness after focusing entirely on regeneration.
[Zzz zz(Are you feeling better now?)]
[Grrr]
The Left Head gave its neck a gentle shake as if to say it was fine.
In any case, the giant robot was dealt with. Now that I had pinpointed the Supreme Leader's location, only one enemy remained.
[•][•][•][•]
Having avoided the brunt of the blast, Masquerade was relatively intact. Yet none of its clones made a reckless move. They were on guard after watching me finish off the robot.
'Four of them. It's a bit awkward to use the Gluttonous Maw Pouch right away.'
[Grrr!]
Just as I moved to attack the clones, the Right Head growled. A cry of warning. The Left Head also craned its neck, aiming the tip of its snout toward the sky behind us.
'What is it?'
Both heads were looking in the same direction. I scanned the skies with my Auxiliary Organ.
Over several hundred Fighters and ships were advancing toward us.
'Something feels off.'
The force was far too small to be reinforcements summoned by the Supreme Leader. Moreover, they were scattered in disarray without maintaining any formation, as if embroiled in a chaotic brawl.
I soon discovered why they were behaving like that.
Beneath the ash-gray sky lay a crimson sea. Resembling blood-red waves several meters high, it was actually a horde of 'Clowns'-Slaves crafted by the Vortex One.
Masquerade had rallied every Clown scattered across Zax-01. The aerial forces had simply followed the surge of the Clown wave.
[Zz zzzz zzz zzz(Refusing to go down easily, are you?)]
[•][•][•][•][•]
Screeching, the clones lunged forward.
Five minutes remained until the Avatar of the Hunt expired.
I would conclude the hunt on Zax-01 before then.
-x-X-x-
[•]
A clone of 'Masquerade' thrust a bio-spear. Instead of dodging, I swung my tail equipped with Pincers.
The strongest shield I possessed collided with the spear forged by the devil. The bio-spear shattered the moment they clashed. Seizing the momentum, I opened my pincers and seized the spear-wielding devil.
[•]
Then, I swung it toward another clone closing in behind me.
It immediately broke off its attack and dodged. My missed tail plunged mercilessly into the earth. The enemy trapped in my pincers was pulverized into mush on impact.
The clone that dodged the blow clung tightly to my flank. Just before its bio-spear could pierce my injured Wings, I bent my body sharply toward it. Wrapping my long torso around the opponent, I crushed it with brute force. Without a single chance to resist, it dissolved into a pool of blood.
[•][•][•][•]
While I fought, the two remaining in the rear split into four. Not stopping there, two of the four attempted to divide once more.
'Does it mean it no longer needs to conserve its strength?"
The swarm of 'Clowns' was returning to their master. To offer up the energy they had harvested.
Soon, the energy reaped from the largest city on this planet would fall into its grasp. That was why it was expending power without restraint.
'Of course, that's only if the energy is delivered safely.'
[•][•][•][•][•][•]
The clones, having multiplied to six in an instant, sprang into motion. Three stood facing one another and raised both arms toward the sky. The devil's 'Performance' began, laying down a thick, blood-red dust cloud.
It knew I was a formidable opponent. Rather than engaging in physical combat, it chose to stall until the Clowns arrived.
'Well, let's see how that works out.'
It wasn't a bad strategy, but there was one thing it failed to realize.
I hadn't let them divide for nothing. I held a trump card capable of ending this fight in a single stroke.
'Gluttonous Maw Pouch.'
The Unique Trait 'Gluttonous Maw Pouch' pulls in and swallows everything before my snout. Regardless of whether a target is larger than me or possesses greater power, it draws them into the pouch.
Once swallowed, an enemy cannot resist. They are merely digested slowly. At least, that has been my experience. In fact, I had already brought down an Outspacer Ranker who wielded the power of a Vortex One.
Even so, the reason I hadn't used it until now was Masquerade's splitting ability.
Among the devils within the red dust cloud, only one was genuine. The rest were merely puppets crafted by Masquerade. Consuming them would do nothing more than yield a trivial amount of energy.
The Gluttonous Maw Pouch cannot be triggered again until its contents are digested. Swallowing the wrong target would simply waste precious time.
What I wanted, above all else, was Masquerade's essence. I had to devour the one possessing the 'Abyssal Core', the heart of a Vortex One.
'Normally, I would have captured and checked them one by one, but...'
Now, there was no need for that. The clones and the main body were conveniently gathered together, ripe for the taking.
I crawled toward the rapidly spreading cloud.
The cloud corrupting everything drew near. As I plunged into it, particles of dust scattered by the Vortex One swarmed over me.
'I'm still fine.'
Thanks to the anti-Vortex One trait 'Erosion Shield', I could endure for about ten seconds. Ignoring the cloud gnawing away at my body, I focused solely on my Auxiliary Organ.
Beyond the chaotically churning veil, I sensed the devils moving. The dancing entities and the ones guarding them were all clustered in a single spot.
I aimed my Center Head at them. Only then did Masquerade, sensing my approach, scramble to react.
But no matter what they tried, nothing could outpace me opening my maw.
Like a snake swallowing an egg, my jawbones unhinged and muscles stretched to their absolute limits. The pouch along my neck quivered and ballooned outward.
The instant the organ existing solely for gluttony awakened, the dust cloud obstructing my view vanished. The surface coating and the bedrock beneath were ripped away whole.
Like a drain swallowing stagnant water, everything before me was pulled deep into my maw.
The red cloud that had been spreading with unstoppable force dissolved in an instant. Where the cloud vanished, the worst Vortex One was nowhere to be seen.
'It worked.'
The Gluttonous Maw Pouch swallowed both it and all its clones. As a result, the pouch on my neck swelled larger than my entire body.
[Grrr?]
[Grrrrr]
In place of the center neck, which had grown too unwieldy to move, the left and right heads turned toward the city.
I felt the red tide smothering the horizon churning in disarray.
'As expected, they're still around.'
Masquerade was currently being digested. Perhaps because of that, the Clown swarm had not vanished.
Of course, the time a masterless Slave could endure was limited. With their connection to Masquerade severed, receiving energy and reviving were impossible. They would merely run rampant until their remaining energy was entirely depleted.
'Should I just leave them be?'
To leave Zax-01 safely, a decoy to divert attention was necessary. The crazed swarm of Clowns would serve that role well.
More concerning were the hundreds of vessels relentlessly bombarding from the sky. Those bastards were entirely unnecessary.
'Let's clear them away.'
Unfurling my torn Wings, I soared into the air. Weighed down by the heavy Gluttonous Maw Pouch, my center neck and torso sagged downward, leaving me looking remarkably like an inflated blowfish.
However, what was about to unfold would not be nearly as comical as my appearance. For I intended to unleash the 'Black Devourer Cannon', the weapon boasting the greatest firepower in my arsenal.
I aimed my left tail at the ash-gray sky. Just before the cannon mounted at the tip of my tail could activate, the atmosphere violently convulsed.
'Hm?'
A colossal explosion detonated across the heavens. The blast was so ferocious that shockwaves rippled all the way down here. Every vessel suspended in the air was instantly vaporized, and even the Clown horde on the surface suffered collateral damage.
That wasn't my doing. Someone had unleashed a massive blast of energy before I could.
And there was only one being here capable of such a feat.
'Adhai!'
Cloaked in a crimson flash, the Galagon burst through the burning clouds. Close behind her, a starship resembling a giant manta ray followed closely.
[Hey! How could you shoot Starflame at an enemy right in front of you?!]
[Star Power][Obstacle][Breakthrough][Useful]
[Shoot from afar! From afar!]
[Focus][Aim][Simultaneously] [Difficult]
Familiar Telepathic Waves brushed against my Monster's Tentacle. It was the Mother of the Sky aboard the 'Wandering Ghost', and Adhai.
Having ventured outside the planet to eliminate Prometheus, the two had returned.
[Zzzzz (Over here)]
[Big Adult!]
Catching my wavelength, Adhai shot toward me like an arrow.
[Big Adult?] [What's this?]
[Z (Huh?)]
Charging as if to ram right into me, she abruptly slowed down.
[Body] [Long][Here][Fat][Strange]
This was her first time seeing my newly transformed true body. Finding my altered appearance unfamiliar, she tilted her head and circled around me.
[Looking at that appearance, you must have eaten Masquerade. With your Gluttonous Maw Pouch.]
[Z (That's right)]
[Still, it doesn't look like it was as easy as before, huh? You're covered in wounds.]
[Zzzzz zzz zzzzz (As you know, it's a cunning bastard)]
[True enough.]
Well-acquainted with Masquerade, the Mother of the Sky seemed to grasp roughly what had happened the moment she saw me.
[Big Adult][Hunt] [Prey][Ate?]
[That's right. That's why he changed like that. His original appearance is, well, quite different. You'll be surprised when you see it later.]
[Really?][Then][Relieved]
[Though I don't know if you'll actually like it.]
Sending out a low Telepathic Wave, she maneuvered the Wandering Ghost to pull up right beside me.
[More importantly, Amorph. I have good news.]
[Zz zz (Good news?)]
[I got word from Isabel. PS-111 has been revived.]
The revival of PS-111. That was definitely welcome news. I thought she might need more time, so this was a relief.
[I only knew you were here because she told me.]
[Z zz zz zzzz zz (Is that so? Are both of them still at the pyramid?)]
[Yeah. She said they're currently disrupting Prime Head's command system.]
[Z (Good)]
With this, my purpose in coming here was practically accomplished. Now, it was time to leave the machine kingdom.
[You know the exact location of the Order members, right? Let's take them along on the way out.]
[Zz zzz zzz zz (Wait. There's somewhere I need to stop by before leaving)]
[Something to do?]
Of course, before that, I would leave only after settling just one matter.
The Supreme Leader, who was defeated even before Masquerade. There was still a conversation left to have with that bastard.
A face-to-face conversation.
---
"Damn it! Curse it all!"
On the monochrome road stretching across the endless plain.
A cyborg man was sprinting forward, continuously spewing curses.
His clothes were charred black, and severed cables dangled from his neck and arms. He looked as pitiful as a Space Dog that had fled after losing a battle.
Of course, there was no way mere pirates could infiltrate Zax-01. The man's name was Zubaka. The highest dignity of the Star Union, the Supreme Leader guiding the cyborg populace.
"AMorph, you bastard who deserves to be torn to shreds! To inflict such humiliation on me once again!"
Zubaka gritted his teeth as he recalled the battle against the Amorph.
Zax-01 was his home ground. The strongest defense facilities and an innumerable army supported him. On top of that, he even had the super-large Walker 'Supreme Fist', which boasted overwhelming capabilities.
It was truly a fight he couldn't have lost even if he wanted to. Yet the goddess of victory had betrayed him.
"If only Masquerade hadn't been there... No, if only I had secured the pyramid at all costs! No! If only the Supreme Fist hadn't been incomplete, victory would have been mine! If that bitch Chloe had just helped in time, it would've been finished long ago...!"
Zubaka muttered ceaselessly like a madman. The fact that he was defeated despite holding every possible advantage had severely shaken the Supreme Leader's mental state.
'Is this my limit? Am I nothing more than a loser in this world as well?'
Furthermore, this defeat completely shattered Zubaka's ultimate goal-his dream of surpassing the Rank 1 Ranker.
In his memory, the absolute ruler of the Star Union was Rank 1. Even after the position of Supreme Leader was handed over to him, that reality never changed. True authority belonged to Rank 1, while he was nothing more than a figurehead.
Possessing fierce pride, Zubaka had always considered that fact a humiliation. He had merely suppressed his emotions because the gap in strength between him and Rank 1 was so overwhelmingly vast.
That was why, when he became the Supreme Leader in this world, he vowed to become a true ruler rather than someone's shadow.
This had by no means been a pipe dream. Entities capable of threatening the Leader of the machine Empire in this universe were exceedingly rare.
If only one of those rare threats hadn't arrived, his dream would have come true.
"...No. It's not over yet."
As he continued to vent endless laments, Zubaka's eyes suddenly gleamed with obsession and madness.
"As long as I'm alive, I can make up for this somehow."
Losing a battle does not necessarily mean losing the war. He was the Supreme Leader of the Star Union. He still had plenty of unused weapons at his disposal.
Knowing this, he was desperately sprinting toward the bunker all by himself.
'Those so-called Supreme Commissioners don't even understand such a simple truth. Pathetic fools.'
The Supreme Commissioners had opposed the Supreme Leader's escape. They insisted he fight until the Supreme Fist completely shut down, claiming it was the duty the Lantern of the People had to uphold.
"Idiots. If you bastards had only piloted it properly, none of this would have happened in the first place!"
Of course, the one who held control of the Supreme Fist was Zubaka himself. The responsibility for the defeat lay entirely upon him. However, his mind, pushed to its brink, refused to admit it.
As he continued racing down the road, the entrance to the Underground Bunker finally came into view.
'Found it!'
Zubaka rushed forward and threw open the door of hope. Just as he was about to step inside, his legs froze before the threshold.
'Why did it suddenly get so quiet?'
The sporadic explosions echoing until moments ago had completely ceased. In the heat of ongoing combat, a silence like this was never a good omen.
"Heading down underground?"
An unfamiliar voice shattered the stillness. It was a voice echoing from far above his head.
The instant he heard it, Zubaka froze stiff where he stood.
"I can't let you do that."
Pale white Wings descended like curtains, shutting the door.
-x-X-x-
"Blyat!"
The moment the bunker door shut, Zubaka leaped up with a hideous shriek.
Judging by the indigo light leaking through his torn clothes, he seemed to have activated the cyborg-exclusive gear, the 'Nano Spartan Module.'
The Nano Spartan Module was suit-type auxiliary armor. Once activated, the nanoparticles dramatically enhanced the wearer's physical abilities. It made them strong enough to engage in hand-to-hand combat against a Wolf transformed into a Phantom Beast.
'A pointless effort, though.'
The difference in our weight classes was utterly overwhelming. It might have been different if he had weapons, but holding out with bare fists was impossible. Knowing that, he chose flight over fight.
Of course, running away wasn't a wise choice either. His fate had been sealed the moment he faced me.
Just as I moved to snatch my prey with my wing membranes, a familiar lethargy washed over me. The sharp, protruding carapace around my snout crumbled away, and the spikes bristling across my body shifted back into scales.
'Damn. Is it over already?'
Twenty minutes had passed since I used 'Avatar of the Hunt.' My empowered body began reverting to its original form.
My gigantified torso and wings shrank to less than half their size. Only the 'Gluttonous Maw Pouch,' already packed with prey, remained swollen to its limit.
Zubaka slipped through the gap created as my wings contracted. Then, without looking back, he dashed toward the nearest road.
Just then, the Left Head beside me moved.
[Grrr!]
"Keugh?!"
Whipping its neck forward like a striking viper, the Left Head shot forward with blinding speed. Before Zubaka could even dodge, its wide-open jaws clamped down on the cyborg's upper body.
[Zzz (Good job.)]
[Gruk!]
"K-Kaaagh!"
He poured all his strength into both arms, struggling to keep the jaws from snapping shut.
"Amorph! W-Wait!"
Thanks to the Nano Spartan suit, he barely held on, but it was a futile resistance. His arms trembled like reeds in the wind.
"I have something to say! It'll be helpful, ghck! Profitable for you too!"
Something helpful, huh. He wasn't wrong.
My opponent was the Supreme Leader of Star Union and a Ranker of the Dominion Faction. There had to be plenty of useful information packed in his head.
I didn't currently possess the 'Parasitic Colony' that controlled parasites, having consumed it to create the 'Faceless Apostle.' Nor had I found a way to communicate with the Faceless Apostle yet.
Siphoning off enough information before eating him would be a good approach.
'Besides, there's another score to settle.'
Not between him and me, but with the Mother of the Sky.
Zubaka had been involved in the deaths of her husband and family. The Supreme Leader was the very one who supplied weapons and equipment to Muriel, the Space Dogs Ranker who massacred the Wolves.
The Mother of the Sky hadn't forgotten that grudge.
He would confess everything he had done, down to the last detail. Whether he wanted to or not.
"Sounds tempting."
"Right? If you let me live, if you promise to guarantee my safety, I'll tell you anything!"
"Sure. Sounds like a great idea."
I signaled to the Right Head with a look.
[Grrr.]
"I knew you were reasonable-huh?"
Receiving my signal, the Right Head bit into Zubaka's legs.
"Of course, you won't need anything other than your head."
"W-Wait-?!"
Both heads yanked their necks in opposite directions. Zubaka was instantly torn in two at the waist.
"A-Aaaaargh!"
Deprived of his lower half, the Supreme Leader screamed and writhed. Blood and energy fluid circulating through his body poured in torrents from the wound.
Cyborgs didn't die easily because their bodies had been mechanically modified. Even with injuries that would instantly kill a human, they could hold out for quite a long time. As the Supreme Leader, he must have undergone even heavier cyberization. An injury like this wouldn't kill him.
"M-My legs!"
"Seeing how full of energy you are, you must be fine."
"You goddamn Morph-phile bastard...!"
"You've got a lot of work ahead of you. Just rest a bit until then."
Still clamping down on Zubaka's remaining upper body, the Left Head closed its jaws. The bastard's screams died down before long.
'Now that the Supreme Leader is secured, time to move.'
The effects of 'Feedback' would expire soon. I needed to get out of here before the pain from all my accumulated injuries rushed in.
I used my energy field and wings to lift myself into the air. The swollen pouch and the neck connected to it sagged downward. It was because my body had shrunk, but the pouch's contents remained unchanged.
'Not that I'm going to spit it back out, though.'
As digestion progressed, the pouch would shrink back to normal. It was uncomfortable, but manageable.
With my neck and pouch hanging low, I flew toward the site where the giant robot had collapsed.
On the plains devastated by the battle against 'Masquerade,' a building-sized metal object stood alone. It was the giant robot, half-destroyed in defeat. Beside the metal colossus, the 'Wandering Ghost' had landed.
'Are they still scouting inside?'
I had tasked the two with searching the giant robot's interior to check if any potential threats remained.
I landed near the lifeless metal giant.
In the robot's torso was a gaping hole left behind by a shattered cannon. Inside the opening, I spotted a red tail swishing gently back and forth.
[Big Adult?]
Sensing my presence, the Red Galagon popped her head out. Perched atop that enchanting head-sculpted like a ruby statue-was a broken scrap of metal.
[Zz (What's that?)]
[Blood-Covered Beast] [Symbol] [Cool!]
Adhai stretched her neck straight up, wearing the scrap like a helmet.
Apparently, she was mimicking the restraint device she wore while disguised as a pit fighter. She seemed to have quite enjoyed her time in the arena.
[Zzz zzzz (Looks cool. You look strong.)]
[Thanks]
Showing off her makeshift helmet, she tilted her head curiously upon seeing my appearance.
[Big Adult] [Different] [Is this] [Real] [Appearance?]
[Zzzz zz zzz zzz (Sort of, but I haven't finished digesting yet.)]
[Overeating] [Speed] [Drop] [Survival] [Dangerous]
[Zzzz ZZZZ ZZZzz (It'll return to normal if we wait.)]
[Relief] [Right now] [Wings] [Horns] [Small] [Body] [Too] [Big] [Weird]
Adhai poured out harsh criticism before shaking her neck as if shuddering in disgust.
[Zzzz zzz (Is it really that bad?)]
[Still] [Big Adult] [Strongest] [Invincible] [Like]
[Amorph?]
Behind the little one adding that brief compliment at the end, a female Wolf appeared.
A Wolf with the head of a crimson raptor, black horns and mane, and a taut, muscular body wrapped in platinum fur-the Mother of the Sky. Since she had brought the Wandering Ghost, she was currently in beastman form.
As soon as she saw me, she asked.
[Did you catch him?]
Instead of answering, I opened the Left Head's mouth. Zubaka, unconscious and missing his lower half, tumbled to the ground.
[...His legs?]
[Zzzzz zz (Tore them off since they weren't needed.)]
[Good work.]
Not a shred of emotion could be felt in her telepathic wave. However, her amber eyes gleamed coldly.
[Do you plan to keep him alive?]
[Z zzz (Yeah. For now.)]
[Until when?]
[Zzz z zzzz zzz (Until he spills everything he knows.)]
[....]
Glaring fiercely at her mortal enemy, she eventually let out a deep sigh.
[I want to kill him right now, but I suppose I can't. Considering the value of what's inside that bastard's head.]
[Zzz zz zz ZZZ Zzzz (No need to worry. It won't take long.)]
[What are you planning to do? You don't have the Parasite trait right now. Even if you did, it'd probably be hard to use. He must have prepared countermeasures.]
[Z zzzz zz zzzz (I know. I'm going to leave it to PS-111.)]
[PS-111? Hmm. Not bad. She's well-versed in both hacking and biotechnology.]
The Mother of the Sky nodded. Now it was my turn to ask.
[Zz zz zzzz (Is that a Supreme Commissioner in your hand?)]
[This?]
She raised the android she had been holding. Although its head and upper body were heavily damaged, it was readily apparent that it was no ordinary android.
[Right. I found it in what looks like the cockpit.]
[Zzz (Anything else?)]
[There's another Supreme Commissioner, but that one isn't in any condition to be moved. It's completely melted and stuck to the floor.]
[Zzzz zz zzz z (Two Supreme Commissioners and one Supreme Leader, huh.)]
It was an excessive amount of military strength to deploy into a single weapon, but not incomprehensible. Considering the giant robot's potential, that is.
If the Star Union's Walkers had an edge over Megacorp's Hulk Mutants, it was the ease of swapping out weaponry. If one knew the opponent well, one could prepare corresponding weapons to counter them.
The giant robot was no different. Had the Supreme Leader known of my infiltration in advance and prepared, the outcome might have been different.
'Well, it's a pointless hypothetical.'
The Supreme Leader lost to me. That powerful weapon would never get another chance to perform.
[Zz ZZZZ ZZ ZZZzz zzz (Take the Supreme Commissioner you found. We'll hand it over to PS-111.)]
[Got it. I haven't checked the rest of the places yet. Should I search more?]
[Zz zzzz zz (No. Let's stop here.)]
[Really? Ah, it's because of Feedback. How much time is left?]
[Z zz zzzz (It'll end soon. Let's hurry.)]
While I spoke, the Left Head slipped Zubaka back into its mouth. We exited the giant robot and headed toward where the members of the Order were hiding.
[You said it was an unmanned truck maintenance depot on the outskirts of the industrial district, right?]
[Z (That's right.)]
[That's surprising. I thought you would've used a bunker or an anti-air turret as a hideout.]
[Zzzz zzz zzz zzz (I was planning to, but things got a bit complicated.)]
[Indeed. Even for you, Zax-01 must be... huh?]
The telepathic waves radiating from the Wandering Ghost abruptly cut off, for an unexpected sight unfolded ahead.
An unfamiliar open field had appeared on the outskirts of the industrial district.
All the factories and warehouses originally there had vanished, leaving only a barren plain, as if a colossal mop had swept the entire area clean.
Near the edge of this sudden clearing stood a building I recognized: the unmanned truck maintenance depot.
[...Just how complicated did things get for it to end up like that?]
[Zz zz zz zz (I didn't do that.)]
[Big Adult] [No] [Little Adult] [Strange power] [Used]
[Could it be what you mentioned earlier? That No. 26 used a strange power.]
[Right] [Traces] [Can feel]
'No. 26 did this?'
Laying waste to a city wasn't difficult in itself; No. 26's power was more than sufficient for that. However, obliterating it so cleanly was a matter on an entirely different level.
'She shouldn't possess that kind of power.'
[It's Big Baby!]
Just as I was reeling from the unexpected situation, a large pink object abruptly popped out from behind the maintenance depot building.
It was the 'Sea Demon' wrapped in a ring formed of overlapping white hands-No. 26 in combat mode. Radiating waves of delight, she flew toward us.
[Real Big Baby, hello! Middle Baby, Little Baby, hello!]
[Yeah. It's been months. Have you been well?]
[Little Adult] [Long time no see]
Drifting over like a hot-air balloon, she looked just like she usually did, except without the countless phantasmal eyeballs churning across her surface. She had likely suppressed her psychic power emissions out of consideration for the Order members.
Other than that, nothing seemed particularly different.
[Big Baby! I kept my promise! I stopped the scary faces from hurting the little fur people and young flutter-flutters!]
[Zzz zz zz zzzz (Then did you make these ruins too?)]
[When I go zap, a wondrous power comes out! The wondrous power blocks all the hurties and bad people. The scary faces were strong and many, but I squished them tight to make them tiny. I didn't want them getting strong again, so I ate them right up!]
Listening to No. 26 explaining enthusiastically while waving her tentacles, I was reminded of what she had said before.
'She said she protected me with a special power while I was asleep.'
At the time, I brushed it off, thinking it was just ordinary psychic power. But looking at it now, that didn't seem to be the case.
She possessed an ability I knew nothing about-and an immensely powerful one at that. She had swept clean an area spanning hundreds of meters in radius with that power.
[The little fur people also hated the scary faces, so they said thank you for making them go away! The young flutter-flutters praised me and said I was cool! Didn't I do well?]
[Z ZZ ZZZZZ ZZZZ Zzz (Yeah. It couldn't have been easy, but you did a great job. Wonderful.)]
[Really? Really? Wow!]
Hearing my praise, No. 26 glowed brightly.
I gently nuzzled the delighted Sea Demon with the tip of my snout. In turn, she raised a tentacle and stroked beneath my chin.
Along with a ticklish sensation, her emotions seeped into my carapace. The joy and happiness flowing through the tentacle felt rather sweet.
[Grrr.]
Both side heads also purred with low growls of contentment. As I was savoring the sensation, I felt a soft impact on my back.
[Me] [Wanna rest]
Clambering onto my back, Adhai tapped my dorsal carapace with her squishy tail.
Perhaps because of that, the connection with No. 26 was severed. Unfazed, she withdrew her tentacle and flew alongside me.
[Why is Little Baby tired?]
[Enemies] [Many] [Hunted] [Won] [Power] [A lot] [Used]
[I see. Still, I caught more.]
[Denial]
The two chatted after a long time apart. It was a familiar sight, but today there was a strangely sharp edge between them.
'Just my imagination, right?'
[Amorph. Did you know too? That No. 26 had this kind of power?]
Belatedly understanding No. 26's explanation, the Mother of the Sky sent a telepathic wave tinged with astonishment. Tuning out the two's bickering, I answered her question.
[Zz zz zzz zzzzz (No. This is the first I've heard of it too.)]
[Why didn't we know until now? Isabel surely would've seen it.]
[Zzzzz zzzz zz zzzz (It might be a trait that doesn't show up in the textbox.)]
[Or she might have applied an existing ability in a new way. If only I could've seen it myself.]
I felt the same way. I wanted to examine No. 26's ability in more detail.
But now wasn't the time. Leaving this planet took priority.
[Zzz zzz zz zzzz (We can check later. Let's get moving.)]
We flew toward the depot at the edge of the ruins. In the parking lot in front of the building, the members of the Order and a flock of Galagons were gathered.
"The servants of the Order greet the Great Ones!"
[Great Adhai] [Pleased to see you!]
The Order members and Galagons paid their respects toward us hovering in the sky.
Beside them stood the Wolf boys and the Angel Spider that No. 26 and I had rescued, bowing awkwardly along with the Order members.
[Hm? I haven't seen those kids before. What's the story?]
[ZZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZzz (It's a long story. I'll leave them in your care for now.)]
[Hmm. All right. It'd be best to put those kids aboard the Wandering Ghost.]
[I'll look after Squeaky!]
Just as everyone was preparing to depart, I too had work to do. I touched down beside the depot building to retrieve the 'Faceless Apostle.'
At that, Adhai, who had been lounging on my back, gently hopped off. She held her head high, showing off before the flock of Galagons.
[Head] [Above] [That] [What?]
[Stone] [Feel] [Slightly] [Different]
[Blood-Covered Beast] [Invincible] [Symbol] [Chieftain] [Dignity] [Symbolizes]
[Blood-Covered Beast] [Title?]
[Unique] [Power] [Charming] [Feel]
[Invincible Adhai] [Cool!]
The Galagons immediately showed interest in the helmet Adhai had fashioned. To their eyes, it apparently looked quite cool, as compliments poured in.
While the dragons chattered, I smashed the depot's outer wall with my head. Behind the collapsed wall, the rigid Apostle curled up in a crouch was revealed.
'Good job.'
The Faceless Apostle deserved immense credit for the success of this operation. Giving the Apostle a brief commendation, I retrieved it.
With our business concluded, we all departed from the depot. Our next destination was the Mechanical Pyramid, where the Screamer sisters were.
[The two of them are at Gate 3 of the pyramid right now. As soon as we arrive, they'll open it and come out.]
[Zzzz (What's our escape method?)]
[A Beta-class battleship. PS-111 is remotely piloting it toward the airspace above the pyramid.]
[Z zzz zzz zz (I see. Is there anything for us to do?)]
She paused for a moment before answering.
[It seems the enemy noticed while she was hijacking the battleship. She said a decoy is needed to draw their attention.]
The Mechanical Pyramid was one of the finest fortresses not just on Zax-01, but in the entire universe. No battleship could easily survive once targeted by the pyramid.
Just as she said, there had to be a decoy to draw attention away from the battleship.
[Zzz zzz zzz (How long do we need to hold out?)]
[It'll take a few dozen seconds for all of us to board the battleship.]
[Zzz (A few dozen seconds, huh.)]
Of course, just because a decoy was needed didn't mean someone had to step forward and sacrifice themselves. In short, all we needed to do was seize the enemy's attention.
[Zz zzz zz (I have a good idea.)]
Even while we talked, we were rapidly closing in on our destination.
Spires constructed from mechanical parts, pipes, and batteries converged by the hundreds and thousands at a single point to form a colossal structure-the Mechanical Pyramid came into view, along with Gate 3 where the Screamer sisters were.
[Zzz zzzz zz zzzz (Board the battleship first, then come pick me up.)]
[Wait, Amorph? You don't have much time left before Feedback sets in. By yourself, you're....]
[Zzz zzz zz ZZZ zzzz (Don't worry. I don't plan on taking it head-on with my body.)]
Sending the others ahead, I halted midair.
Movement stirred from the pyramid looming amidst the flames ravaging the city. The countless defensive installations mounted on the metal fortress were primed to fire at a moment's notice.
Some of them were clearly aimed at me.
Even knowing that, I didn't dodge. For they, too, had entered my effective range.
I slowly shifted my left tail. The cannon mounted at its tip locked onto the sky above the pyramid.
It was time to unleash the 'Black Devourer Cannon' I had canceled earlier.
Energy diffused throughout my body converged into my tail. My constantly flapping wing-arms grew drastically heavy, and an intense powerlessness coiled around my whole body. Even so, my left tail didn't budge an inch.
Half of all my energy concentrated into the tail. The muzzle opened, and the all-devouring Devourer burst forth.
A black cannonball of pure energy tore through the air. Before long, it reached its destination.
In the dead center of the ash-laden clouds, a tiny black dot appeared. That pitch-black darkness swallowed all light and color as it expanded in size.
The dark sky, the ships roaming amidst the clouds, and even the pinnacle of the pyramid-everything was sucked into the black dot like water down an open drain.
Though I had experienced it before, the Devourer's lifespan was brief. The darkness that acted as if it would swallow everything endlessly vanished before long.
Where it had clawed its path, only an impeccably clear sky remained without a single speck of dust. The upper portion of the pyramid had also completely vanished, as if rubbed out by an eraser.
Even then, the pyramid's defenses did not attack me. No, to be precise, they couldn't.
The destructive feat I had displayed was something far beyond what a mere creature could achieve. It was enough to make even the Supreme Commissioner commanding the pyramid tremble in terror.
They were utterly overwhelmed by me. Until they recovered from the shock, they wouldn't be able to mount a proper response.
The moment I confirmed that, my vision abruptly darkened. As the Feedback effect ended, the deferred wave of agony came crashing down.
Massive pain ensnared my entire body. Even the energy field I reflexively emitted fell into total disarray. Unable to fly any longer, I plummeted toward the earth.
As I barely held onto consciousness, something familiar gently wrapped around me. The sensation of resting on a plush bed was unmistakably familiar.
'No. 26.'
She caught my falling body firmly. Soon after, my form was shifted onto a solid mass of metal.
The chill I felt then was my final memory before losing consciousness.