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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator – Seraph]
[Proofreader – Draxx]
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Chapter 343
The first sensation I felt when I woke up was sweetness.
The taste of rich chocolate filled my mouth, so intense it almost made my jaw ache.
｢There’s still more, so eat plenty.｣
｢Grrr｣
｢Big adult｣｢Young kin｣｢Similar｣
｢Grrrrr?｣
｢Compliment｣
After the melt-in-your-mouth sweetness, the next thing I realized was that the heads on both sides of me were moving.
I slowly opened my eyes.
｢Big adult｣｢You’re awake｣
｢Big child, eat this too｣
As soon as I opened my eyes, a piece of black meat was pushed into my mouth. It was the Vortex One meat I had collected before falling asleep.
Number 26 and Adhai were diligently pushing food into my mouth as I lay there sleeping. Given that the corpses of the Vortex Ones were almost gone from the hangar, it seemed they had continued feeding me while I was unconscious.
‘This takes me back.’
When I was knocked out after shooting down the Empire flagship, they had fed me in much the same way. Whether it was then or now, they were always so consistent.
‘Well, since they’re giving it to me, I might as well accept it calmly.’
I had already bitten and swallowed a few times when fighting them, and I had even consumed a core. However, I hadn’t had the chance to savor the taste properly at the time because I was too focused on the fight.
I leisurely chewed on the ‘Ring of Agony’ meat they gave me.
‘It’s still pretty good.’
The outer shell was hard, but the inside was softer than jelly, offering a very different texture from the exterior. It felt like biting into a hardened chocolate shell, but the inside was more like chocolate fudge cake. The taste was sweet with deep flavor, so I didn’t get tired of it even after eating more.
‘The two heads will probably like this.’
The heads on both my left and right sides were already eating the meat without waiting for me to wake up. Even when I looked at them, the two heads didn't mind and continued to eagerly accept the food from Number 26 and Adhai.
Thanks to them, my energy was fully restored. The injuries I had sustained during the battle had nearly healed, leaving only a few scars.
[ZZ ZZZ (What about the others?)]
｢The friend’s family is sick, so I’m staying with them. I think the friend’s family is very sick.｣
｢Ugly friend｣｢Scale dwarf｣｢Together｣｢Stay with｣
PS-111 still seemed to be struggling with the adjustment of Isabel. A whole day had passed since I fell asleep, and it was taking longer than expected.
‘It seems making a body for oneself is harder than I thought.’
While PS-111 had created MPS series units before, those were merely terminals without independent thought. This was the first time it was trying to create a Screamer with an independent consciousness, and it seemed to be facing difficulties.
‘I did give it Alshas, though...’
Before I fell asleep, I had entrusted PS-111 with the care of Alshas. I told it to avoid touching the head and just keep it alive, allowing it to handle the rest as it saw fit.
‘PS-111’s model, the Mutant Screamer, uses the body of a Ranker.’
More specifically, the body of the 18th-ranked Ranker, Penelope, was used for the Mutant Screamer. The ones who designed it were in a position to acquire as many Coldbloods as they wanted. So the fact that they specifically cloned a Ranker to use is likely for a reason.
‘It doesn’t seem to understand, though.’
For PS-111, there was no real distinction between regular cultists and Alshas. It didn’t know much about the existence of Rankers either.
But since I was the one explaining, it tried to understand and calmly accepted Alshas. If anyone could use a Ranker’s body to its fullest, it would be PS-111.
If its usefulness starts to decline, that’s when I’ll start interrogating it.
‘For now, there’s nothing to do, so I’ll have to wait.’
Since I had gained a fair number of new traits recently, I figured I might as well check them out while resting.
As I chewed the meat offered by Number 26 and Adhai, I summoned a translucent text box.
｢Multidimensional Lifeform: Bio Plasma Synthesis (New!), Collective Consciousness Terminal (New!)｣
-Fusion Traits Related to Multidimensional Lifeforms: Deep Space Plague (New!)
｢*Incomplete Traits (8 items):
Gills, Giant Creature, Natural Healing, Radio Interference, Sawtooth Tentacle, Mimicry, Catfish Nest, Demon Machine (New!)｣
｢‘Adult’ -> ‘Ascension’ Evolution Condition partially fulfilled.
Essence of Mind: Vortex One (0.5) (Unachieved)｣
｢‘Transcendence’ Material List (New!):** Demon Machine, Tyrantoid, Unconfirmed, Unconfirmed, Unconfirmed｣
Among the various traits I obtained, the most significant ones were the unlocking of new type information and the synthesis of a new unique trait formula.
Traits of the ‘Multidimensional Lifeform’ series are mainly obtained when devouring Outsiders or Vortex Ones.
The number of traits required to unlock a type is 4. If I obtain just one more, I’ll have the type.
‘It would have been better if I had obtained it earlier.’
I feel a bit disappointed with the timing of when I obtained the traits. They are all good, but at this point, they’re not incredibly useful.
‘Bio Plasma Synthesis’ is a trait that allows the absorption of external energies, such as plasma or psychic power, and converts them into biological energy. It’s one of the means that help Outsiders who participate in combat fight for longer periods.
If I had this trait, I could absorb the energy flowing from a ship's reactor and use it. It’s not a bad trait, but I have something better: the Dragon’s Heart. Since I already have an organ that pumps energy for me, this trait isn’t as necessary.
‘Deep Space Plague. This one’s good, but...’
The ‘Deep Space Plague’, acquired by using the infection-related trait ‘Space Bacteria’, is a trait that applies random debuffs to any target I come into contact with. Since it’s a virus constantly mutating to adapt to space, the debuff effects are ever-changing.
The nature of the virus continuously changing makes it difficult to treat. This is why I used to rush to enemy planets to deploy it.
If I had obtained this trait before heading to Verzan-02, it would have been quite useful. But now that the strategy is complete and I’ve already left the planet, it’s lost some of its shine.
If I ever have to raid a Megacorp or a Cult planet, though, this trait will definitely be fun to use.
‘Next is the Collective Consciousness Terminal.’
Despite the grandiose name, it’s actually a passive support trait.
Its effect is to help me read communications between Outsiders, as they communicate using their own bioelectric signals. Without this trait, or special tools, it would be impossible to understand what they’re saying.
‘This trait is essential if I’m going to fight Outsiders again.’
Since it’s highly likely that I’ll face them again, having this will be worth the effort.
All three traits are useful, but they’re somewhat limited in their applications. Still, they’re better than having none.
‘Honestly, though, what I’m really disappointed about is not being able to obtain the Demon Machine.’
I was happy when I triggered the devour effect of the Ring of Agony, but the result was a letdown; it ended up being incomplete.
Since it wasn’t a fully formed summon, the ‘Demon Machine’ trait appeared as an incomplete trait, similar to how genetic samples are displayed when consumed.
The Demon Machine is a trait that grants access to skills related to the Vortex One's unique ability, ‘Abyssal Power’. Only by obtaining this trait can I use the abilities of other Vortex Ones after consuming them.
Just like how other intelligent beings need a ‘Psychic Organ’ to use psychic powers, to use a Vortex One’s abilities, I need the ‘Demon Machine’ trait.
For instance, with the Ring of Agony, I would only be able to use a Vortex One's gravitational manipulation or Abyssal Power abilities after I devour it, but only if I have the ‘Demon Machine’ trait. Without it, even if I gain the traits, I can’t use them.
On the surface, this doesn’t seem great, but among all species, only the Coldbloods, aside from Vortex Ones, can use their abilities. Plus, since PS-111 can use any traits it acquires without cost, from a long-term perspective, it’s much more advantageous.
Of course, the probability of obtaining Vortex One traits is so low that it’s almost negligible, but I do have hunting marker as an advantage. If I manage to obtain the Demon Machine trait and hunt other Vortex Ones, gaining these abilities won’t be that difficult.
‘Tch. It would have been great if I had gotten the Demon Machine here.’
It’s frustrating, but it can’t be helped.
I’m going to fight Vortex Ones again anyway, as my evolution condition remains stuck at 0.5, which is incomplete. To change it to ‘achieved’, I’ll have to defeat and consume a complete Vortex One.
‘I’ve never fought in an incomplete state before, so some unexpected results keep popping up.’
The last remaining piece is the new unique trait synthesis.
It seems that the ‘Demon Machine’ was the key trait, as a new unique trait synthesis formula has opened up.
‘The Tyrantoid’ is already in my possession, and I only obtained the Demon Machine as an incomplete trait.’
The other three materials are marked as ‘Unconfirmed’.
‘...I have a pretty good idea of what’s going to go in there.’
Both the Tyrantoid and the Demon Machine share a common trait; they are ‘standard’ traits derived from apex creatures. The other three traits are likely to also be ‘standard’ traits from apex beings.
‘Not just any apex, but the top-tier apex.’
When I obtained the Tyrantoid, this synthesis wasn’t unlocked, but it became available after I got the Demon Machine. If I defeat more top-tier apex beings, it might reveal more information.
‘A unique trait synthesized from apex traits...’
The unique traits I’ve made so far using the transcendence system have been influenced to some degree by their materials. I can’t even imagine how powerful the result will be from using apex traits.
Perhaps I should consider targeting apex beings as my next goal once I’ve gathered enough information from Isabel and Alshas.
‘Wait a minute.’
As I thought about apex beings, my mind suddenly wandered to the small monsters in front of me.
‘Both of them must have eaten Vortex Ones, right?’
Number 26 and Adhai, who are diligently feeding me, must have also consumed the Ring of Agony. Has anything changed in them?
I closed the text box and asked the two.
[ZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ (Aren’t you guys okay without eating?)]
｢We’ve eaten a lot!｣
｢Food｣｢Too much｣｢Full｣
Looking closely, Adhai definitely seemed to have eaten more than usual. The once-slim figure of the creature now had a bloated belly, shaped like a tail. Number 26, however, appeared unchanged physically.
‘They look the same, but...’
In games, Sea Demons and Gallogons hardly ever eat Vortex Ones. Their environments are different, so they don’t typically encounter each other.
The only exceptions are when events overlap, such as when a Red Gallagon and a Vortex One appear simultaneously or when Coldbloods summon Vortex Ones during campaigns.
Even when they do cross paths, it’s usually the Vortex Ones that come out victorious. I’ve only seen a Red Gallogons with full abilities face off against a Vortex One once, and that battle ended in a draw.
In other words, Number 26 and Adhai are the first Sea Demon and Gallagon I’ve encountered that have consumed Vortex Ones.
[ZZ ZZZZ ZZ (Haven’t you changed at all?)]
They both hadn’t shown any obvious physical changes, but who knows. When I asked them more directly, both 26 and Adhai eagerly responded.
｢I’ve changed! I’ve changed!｣
｢Me too!｣｢Me too!｣
[ZZZ ZZZ (You’ve changed?)]
｢Yep! I’ll show you!｣
With that, Number 26 energetically bounced away from me. As I allowed some distance, its body began to expand.
‘Is it going into combat mode?’
Usually, when Number 26 enters battle mode, it transforms into a giant pink jellyfish with numerous eyes all over its body. But what I saw now was different from what I had known.
It shifted from its balloon-like form to a more flattened, ring-shaped body with a dome covering the top. From the center of the ring, long fins and tentacles began to stretch out.
While the fins were unchanged, the tentacles had evolved significantly. The tips of the tentacles branched out like smaller tentacles, resembling human arms.
Moreover, the transformation didn’t just involve its appearance.
‘It can fly now?’
The newly transformed creature floated in the air. Since I didn’t sense any psychic power, it seemed to be floating by some method I couldn’t understand.
It was reminiscent of the Ring of Agony.
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator – Seraph]
[Proofreader – Draxx]
Join our Discord for release updates!
https://discord.com/invite/dbdMDhzWa2
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