I Became an Evolving Space Monster

Episode 277 – Collapse (2)

The psychic power emanating from the Antler Cult pressed heavily on my body.

‘Gravity Control’, an advanced ‘binding’ psychic technique commonly used by No. 26, was performed one after another in a short period of time. The intention is to block my movements and then launch a strong attack technique.

Of course, there is no need to match the other person’s intentions. I tried to respond, but No. 26, who was in my arms near my chest, stepped forward before me.

The Sea Demon’s psychic power was released explosively, removing the psychic power that had enveloped me. Feeling that my body became lighter in an instant, I spread my wings and arms wide and flew up to the silo.

Almost simultaneously, rainbow-colored orbs passed beneath my tail. The spheres that narrowly missed hit the shielding wall surrounding the headquarters and disappeared.

The technique the opponent used was Color Bomb. It is a technique that randomly causes negative effects and causes great damage to the opponent it hits.

Hanging upside down in the middle of the silo, I adjusted the angle of the biocannon on my back. The targets are cult rankers and transport ships. Two spores filled with explosive ooze fell down.

But this time too, my attack was ineffective. The spores disappeared as soon as they hit the purple mandala unfolded by the opponent. The sight of a sand castle collapsing after being swept away by waves was similar to when the psychic breath disappeared.

‘It’s not just about blocking energy.’

After exchanging one attack, we fell into a lull.

The other person knows my identity. That’s why he’s probably trying to carefully review the information he can get from the fight just now.

I am also like her. I hung in the silo and watched her closely.

‘Why is the cult ranker here?’

According to the rumors I heard before coming to Kesha Arma, a considerable amount of time has passed since this fortress fell into the hands of pirates. If it were a cult stronghold like the game, it would be unnatural to have a cult ranker in the current situation.

‘I don’t look like a pirate like Muriel.’

If that were the case, Kadoon would have said that his leader was a cult pirate.

‘Or is it one of the colleagues Jason mentioned?’

There are a total of two cult rankers that Jason remembers. One was from a different faction, so he didn’t know the details, and the other was said to be active within the empire.

Coincidentally, the other party is also a deer antler cult. There is a high possibility that Jason knows.

‘I said her name was Cynthia.’

Antler Cult Cynthia has strong defense abilities that are even better than Jason. So, whenever we moved together, I mainly played the role of supporter.

Not all rankers have excellent direct combat skills. While there are players like Jason who enjoy using offensive skills, there are also those who specialize in supporting and protecting allies.

‘A ranker specializing in defense.’

A purple mandala covers her and the pirate transport ship behind her.

Jason said that this ability was superior to his own defensive skills.

In fact, the purple mandala not only blocked the energy-type attack, Psychic Breath, but also nullified explosive spores. According to the information I heard, it is said that it can prevent other types of attacks.

In addition, the mandala can be adjusted by the user to easily defend against attacks coming from various angles. Even now, she is protecting herself and those around her by forming a mandala into a dome shape.

‘Is it an installed technology like a complex spectrometer?’

In games, there are very few technologies or characteristics that are installed and have a defensive effect. Even so, most of them are exclusive planes for boss-level creatures. It is not that there are no installed defense technologies and characteristics that players can use, but most of them have very strict restrictions or are very ineffective.

‘The problem is its weakness…’

Unfortunately, Jason was not fully aware of the privileges of that female cult.

There was a problem with his memory when he became a human being, and there was also the fact that he was so arrogant that he didn’t pay attention to those weaker than him, so he didn’t know much about it. Given his personality, it’s possible that he viewed the Antler Cult as a convenient buff vending machine.

‘I have no choice but to see it with my own eyes.’

I quickly gathered my thoughts and started by examining the enemy’s clothing.

‘The armor is ordinary.’

She was wearing clothes that resembled a wide stola. That’s the clothing that cult nobles usually wear in their daily lives.

It seemed that, apart from knowing my identity, they didn’t think I would come here.

It’s not particularly strange. In the game, Kesha Arma wasn’t very helpful in Amorph’s evolution. I wouldn’t have even thought of coming here if I hadn’t gotten the information from the slave market.

‘I’m glad I encountered the enemy when he was weak.’

“Big baby. “That kid is scary.”

At that time, No. 26, who was being held in my arms, sent out a shallow wave as if whispering in my ear. Number 26 is more sensitive than me when it comes to detecting and operating psychic powers.

Actually, I am thinking similarly to him. You can’t feel safe just because your clothes are shabby. Even if the opponent specializes in auxiliary classes, a ranker is a ranker. It is never an easy enemy.

I asked No. 26 while being wary of the enemy.

[Zuzu zuz zuzuz zuz zuzuz zuzuzu (Can you catch him like you catch other kids?)]

｢I’ll try.｣

The guy’s psychic power secretly radiates out and seeps into the metal wall of the silo. Like a predator lurking in a field of reeds, stalking its prey, the psychic powers that had been creeping all at once attacked the dome of the mandala.

However, like the previous two cases, No. 26’s psychic power was blocked by the dome and disappeared.

[Zuzuzu (It doesn’t work)]

“That beeping thing is bothering me.”

I patted the sullen guy with my small arm.

‘Even though it’s the same attack, it can’t be fired from the inside, but it can’t be fired from the outside.’

The only difference between the restraints used by No. 26 and the restraints used by them is the total amount of psychic power, but the mechanism itself is the same. However, seeing as it doesn’t work, it appears to be a method that only allows user attacks to pass through.

‘Nothing is perfect in this world.’

This headquarters alone is protected by a shield wall that can withstand my psychic breath, but it was eventually breached. The same goes for that defense technique. Even if it has incredible performance, there are bound to be loopholes somewhere.

I spread the flaps of my folded wings wide again. My body fell from the metal wall and glided through the silo.

I need to take a look and see if there are any loopholes in the fortress Cynthia built.

–

“What is that?”

“…the monster that attacked this fortress.”

“Damn the rain! Where did that monster come from…”

“It is a very powerful enemy. “You must never leave this energy field.”

“Is there anything we can do to help?”

“It helps me to stay still.”

Contrary to reassuring Montana, who was shocked behind her, Cynthia was not feeling well.

‘Damn it…’

Even though I tried to keep my cool, it was difficult to calm down because the situation was so serious.

She has competed against the 5th ranked Aimov ranker only twice. In other words, this is the third time.

Although I have little experience competing directly with Aimov, I have heard of his legendary notoriety.

Jason, who was killed every single day for several months for interfering with evolution, eventually posted an apology to the community.

Akira lost three colony planets while fighting against him.

Zubaka was not promoted to Grand Leader for two weeks due to the annihilation of the Mechanical Committee.

All members of the ‘dominant faction’ harbor a grudge bordering on fear towards Aimov.

The problem is that it is not just the ruling faction members who are afraid. A member of the ‘Return Faction’, the real faction she belonged to, also warned her.

Don’t ever run into that guy.

If you feel like you’re going to fight, just run away.

The member who left that warning was the one who competed with Amorph more than anyone else. Although he is ranked lower than 5th, he defeated the guy several times with his genius brain play.

Even such a talented person told me to run away at all costs.

‘If I could run away, I would have done so a long time ago.’

As soon as it appeared, it immediately targeted the transport ship. I don’t know who the opponent is, but they were trying to block him from leaving.

If it weren’t for her special ‘Phase Defense Mantra’, she wouldn’t have been able to easily block it.

The phase defense mantra, which installs a protective shield made up of a purple mandala in a certain area, is a very powerful defensive technique. It defends against not only physical attacks, but also energy-based attacks and attacks that cannot be defended, such as Vortex One.

Thanks to this ability, Cynthia mainly participated in a support role when members of the ruling faction hunted players. The range of the shield is not very wide, with a maximum radius of 10m, but it was enough to protect a few members.

Of course, it is not completely without drawbacks. Aside from its narrow range, the phase defense mantra has one fatal weakness.

Of course she wasn’t worried about that. This is because it was a weakness that even players who worked with her realized much later. It was unlikely that Eimoff would notice this, as it had only been a few minutes since the encounter.

If anything, right now we have to worry about something other than the mantra of phase defense.

In her hands is the strongest shield, but her weapons are poor. It’s not easy to kill him with her powers.

‘Plus, the pet he has with him.’

A small pink creature held on Aimorph’s chest. The identity of that creature resembling a bubble amoeba is a Sea Demon.

There is nothing more foolish than waging a supernatural battle against a semi-boss level creature that is good at controlling psychic power.

In fact, she is constantly using psychic techniques on Aimorph, but all of them are neutralized by the Sea Demon.

Meanwhile, the guy was using all kinds of characteristics to attack her shield.

The biological bomb launched from the cannon on its back, and the thorns fired from inside the tail’s claws were features that were familiar to the game.

However, the foam ball fired while its body turned an unpleasant color sent chills to her stomach. Fortunately, the ominous bubble was blocked by a protective shield and dissipated.

The guy didn’t give up and continued his next attack, as if he had already expected it. As soon as the sphere effect wore off, it flew into her close range. One of the many arms, instead of wings, clawed at her shield.

｢Grrrr｣

Amorph’s claws that touched the protective shield disappeared like ice cream melting.

I fought him and injured him for the first time, but it is still too early to feel relieved. She quickly extended her left hand towards him. A huge scythe made of purple energy fell on the guy’s head.

The name of that scythe is ‘Ripper’s Hand’. It is a psychic technique specialized for cutting heavily armored enemies, easily cutting through the front armor of a battleship. With this, I could easily break its carapace.

Just as the scythe was about to cut the guy’s head in two, the guy turned his head slightly to the side. The scythe disintegrated as soon as it collided with its asymmetrical horn.

‘Horn of Gallagon!’

I thought it only neutralized defensive techniques among psychic techniques, but I had no idea it could be applied in that way. Embarrassed, she tried to fight back, but he was one step faster.

Its hideous maw opened wide and green liquid poured out like a fountain. She flinched for a moment as she saw a lump of pus dripping onto her head.

“What the fuck is that?!”

“…disgusting.”

Regardless of the physiological disgust they felt, the mantra of phase defense was alive and well. Not a single drop of liquid reached her and spilled onto the floor around her.

The metal floor, which was not protected by the mantra, melted, emitting toxic smoke.

‘…It’s an acidic liquid.’

Acid Breath is an attribute Cynthia has also seen for the first time. While taking note of his new characteristics, she struck the Ripper’s Hand again.

The target this time is his legs. A purple scythe flies, cutting through the thick smoke. It spread its huge wings and flew backwards to avoid the attack.

‘good!’

I predicted that it would retreat. As soon as she fired the Ripper’s Hand, she threw the prepared color bomb at him. I tried to avoid it, but it was so big that I couldn’t dodge it completely. The colored bomb hit its abdomen and destroyed part of its carapace.

｢Grrr!｣

“Well done!”

“That bastard!”

Amov’s short groan and the voices of those cheering behind him rang out at the same time. The one hit by the color bomb stumbled slightly and clung to the silo.

‘good. If you just do this….’

For a moment, I was happy about being hit. She realized that he looked different than before.

‘No Mr. Demon?’

The pink creature I was holding on my chest suddenly disappeared.

The moment she noticed that, the floor she was standing on began to shake violently.

‘no way?!’

The Sea Demon disappeared from the melted hole.

There was no doubt that it was targeting areas that the shield could not protect.

After realizing his intentions, she quickly readjusted her phase defense mantra. In just a few seconds, the floor cracked and debris flew upward.

Several holes the size of a human head appear, and pink tentacles emerge from them. The adjustment of the shield was completed just before they wrapped around her legs.

The tentacle lost its strength and fell to the floor, accompanied by an eerie sound of flesh being torn apart. The dome-shaped protective film changed into a sphere shape, cutting off the tentacles that had invaded the inside.

‘It was almost dangerous…’

Just as she was trying to reassure herself, she felt a strong pain in her abdomen. When I lowered my head, I saw that the cloth covering my stomach was stained red.

“crazy! “What are you doing now?”

“Oh, I have to kill the lord, but I have to kill the lord!”

As she looks back blankly, Montana and her bodyguard come into view.

The bodyguard is holding a Gauss rifle tightly and making strange noises, and Montana is having a hard time blocking the bodyguard.

When she saw that, she used restraint techniques without hesitation and pushed the bodyguard out of the shield.

“I’m going to kill you! Kill me? I’m going to kill you! Hi-Hi! ha ha ha!”

The frantic bodyguard rushed into the shield and disappeared.

Cynthia paid attention to the bodyguard and quickly used her recovery technique. As the bleeding stopped and the puncture wound healed, the pain gradually subsided.

“What on earth is happening now?”

“…It looks like this guy did it.”

Gritting her teeth, she glared at the monster hanging from the silo.

The mane-like tentacles around the back of the monster’s head and neck fluttered as if the wind was blowing, then stopped.

“It’s a shame.”

The voice I heard for the first time since the battle began.

Cynthia knows that the voice that seems to be heard everywhere was stolen from someone, because she experienced it once while fighting that bastard.

But the moment she heard it in person, a feeling quickly grew in her heart.

It was ‘fear’.