033

Ep. 33

–

She looked at the huge cocoon that filled the living room.

The child accompanying her said it was an egg, but no matter how many times you looked at it, it wasn't the size of an egg.

Doesn't it grow suddenly and become a cocoon?

Is it because she is still young? I had no idea what kind of creature the child was.

No animal she had ever seen in her life was like this.

Still, she didn't really care.

She made a promise as she emerged from the disgusting liquid prison. He said he would protect the child no matter what.

But until now, there have been more cases of being protected by a child than protecting a child. That made her uncomfortable.

The child seemed to be very hungry and begged for food every time, but there was not much she could do.

Would it have made a difference if the tentacles that gave her strength had been stronger?

Would it have been different if she were bigger?

In a distraught mood, she pulled out a tentacle to stroke the cocoon. The moment the tentacle touched the cocoon, she was startled.

An unknown energy was absorbed into her body along the tip of the tentacle. As if I had eaten highly nutritious food, I felt full and my strength surged.

She seemed to be addicted to the high caloric energy and could not remove her tentacles from the cocoon.

–

'It's a little different this time?'

When I became a hatchling, I could feel the changes around me inside the egg, but this time was different.

All sense of connection to my body was lost and I stood alone in the dark.

When I looked down at my hands, I was greeted by the hand of someone who now felt unfamiliar to me.

The outfit was the same as the one I was wearing before entering the world of space survival.

'This is like my imaginary world.'

Looking around, there were no particularly threatening elements. There is only a pitch black space without a single light spreading out infinitely far away.

'It's a dark place, but I'm used to it.'

As a child, whenever my parents argued, I always went under the bed or in the closet. If I crouched there, covering my ears, I felt much more at ease.

'It reminds me of the old days.'

It's a memory I don't really want to recall.

I shook my head to get rid of unnecessary thoughts.

'How long do you have left?'

It takes 6 hours to become a sub-adult in the game.

I don't know how long it will take in reality, but there wasn't much difference from the game when I became a fluid, so it will be similar this time too.

'What were the production team thinking when they made it like this?'

To give such a severe penalty to evolution, which is an essential element in Aimorph operation. I really don't understand.

In a game where PK occurs in real time for 24 hours, being incapacitated for 6 hours is a flaw so serious that it can safely be called a bug.

Additionally, Amorphs cannot cooperate, so it is impossible to ask a comrade to protect them when evolving. Unless you hide in a place where no one knows, you will most likely get caught during the evolution.

'Because there are players who only go out to catch Amorph.'

In particular, because of me, the number of people who disliked Amorph increased, and Amorph users were attacked.

I've said it all, as many Aimorphs failed to evolve and folded in anger. I also got caught by Amorph hunters during evolution and died a lot.

There is no particular penalty for failing to evolve. It's just a huge hassle to have to find a place to hide again. Moreover, I have to wait for a long time, so I can't help but feel annoyed.

So the hunters who interfered with evolution tormented them more horribly than at other times.

'Looking back, I was a bit harsh too.'

A while ago, a hunter took a video of me being attacked and posted it on the community.

The reaction at the time was very explosive. To be precise, the resentment and criticism towards me was enormous.

There were all kinds of strange noises, such as asking how a person could do that, asking if he was really Amorph, and saying that he was going to catch the kid.

'Tsk.'

I don't know if it's the magic of a space full of darkness, but unnecessary memories keep coming back to me.

If you have time, don't waste it and use it usefully.

There's a lot of work to be done in the future, so I'll have to figure out what to do first when I leave.

'I'll think about it while I walk.'

I took a step forward.

The waves spread out as if you put your feet on the water.

Starting with that, I walked aimlessly across the black space.

'If you evolve, the first thing you need to eat is the Wolffs living next door and on the 5th floor, and the transformation race will be resolved to some extent…'

After evolving, I was thinking about how to attack the trade center, but something dark and brown appeared and intercepted me. blocked.

'huh?'

It was a fluid Amorph that appeared in the black space.

I knew it intuitively as soon as I saw it.

This guy is the remnants of Amorph that remain in my body.

As I became immersed in the world of images, Aimorph's instincts seemed to come in as well.

It showed its teeth and growled, but it wasn't particularly scary. Rather, it even felt familiar.

I reached out to the guy. The guy who had been growling and threatening closed his mouth and bowed his head meekly.

The moment my hand touched his head, I woke up.

'Where?'

As soon as I opened my eyes, there was a thin wall blocking me. A soft, sticky film surrounded me.

Feeling returned to my body.

Currently, I was curled up with my arms wrapped around my legs, like a baby in my stomach. The long tail was wrapped around like a belt. When I released my fighting arms and stood up, the film tore along with the sound of the plastic being torn apart.

A text box appeared in front of me standing on the torn cocoon.

｢Species: Unidentified hostile space creature

Status: Subadult

Goal: Survive (successfully evolve twice).

Possessed characteristics

-Body-related (type in effect): Wings Chitinous shell Regenerative power (fusion) Neurotoxin glands (fusion) Monster skeleton Acid blood Strengthening brevis Mimicry organ (fusion) Saw blade Tentacles Contamination organ Spiny bone Projection organ -Superpower-related: Predator sense (fusion

) ) Monster's Tentacle (Fusion) Humanity Clairvoyance Superpower Resistance

Type: Physical Enhancement Type

*A new unread message has arrived. Would you like to view?

'Message?'

This is the first time I have received a message saying it has evolved. I had never seen anything like this in a game before, so I accepted to view it with some confusion.

｢The new system 'Transcendence' system has been unlocked! Would you like to check the instructions? '

They said it was a new work, but it looks like there are some changes.'

The last time I took Psionium, this message did not appear. It seemed like a new system that could only be unlocked by officially evolving.

When I selected OK, a text window filled my eyes.

｢'Transcendence' system: Combines three or more of the characteristics you have and changes them into a new 'unique' characteristic. The newly acquired characteristics are completely new characteristics that did not exist before.

List of available talents: Chitinous Coat Monster Skeletal Strength Enhancement

*PS: This is not necessarily a benefit. Choose carefully.

'It's a transcendent system.'

Originally, in space survival, characteristic fusion was only possible 1:1.

Therefore, it was difficult for races that relied on characteristics to remember what characteristics they had when the game continued for a long time.

By the time I saw the ending, I also had over 500 traits, so I had a hard time remembering them all.

It was such a shitty system that even I, a morpher, was embarrassed, but I never thought they would revamp it like this.

'how will we do it.'

If it were a game, I would have received it right away, but this is reality. Wrong judgment leads to great danger.

If there is a new system that I don't know about, I need to carefully consider it before making a decision, as mentioned in the postscript.

'It's a benefit to be able to obtain unique characteristics.'

In space survival, there are no separate grades for each characteristic. This is because the efficiency of a characteristic varies greatly depending on who uses it and how.

Is it possible that the fused characteristics are generally evaluated as stronger?

However, among them, there are special characteristics that provide overwhelming performance compared to other characteristics.

These are so-called 'unique' characteristics. In terms of equipment, it is difficult to obtain it at the same level as relic level, but it has very good performance characteristics.

'But that doesn't mean it doesn't have its drawbacks.'

The unique trait is very powerful, but it has one drawback.

General characteristics remain even when a character dies, but unique characteristics disappear completely when a character dies.

If you want to get a unique trait, you have to get it again from the beginning. Therefore, you must be very careful when using the characteristics.

'But this is reality, so it's not a disadvantage, is it?'

In reality, if you die anyway, it's over. The loss of unique characteristics is not a consideration.

'But reducing the number of characteristics is a risk.'

What I need to consider rather than the disadvantages of the unique feature itself is the number of features themselves.

Currently, I have 11 body-related characteristics. If 3 of these are missing, the 10 conditions required for the physical enhancement type cannot be fulfilled.

You may think that you can get the unique characteristics first and then collect the physical characteristics later, but there is a problem with doing so.

'The characteristic penalty does not disappear even if the type is canceled in the middle.'

Currently, the number of superpower enhancement types has increased to 6 due to the type penalty. What happens if I reacquire the physical enhancement type again?

Unreasonably, a penalty is added, increasing the required number from 6 to 12.

'…Let's put the transcendental system on hold.'

Physical attributes are relatively easy to obtain.

To be honest, I am very attracted to it because it is said to be a unique trait, but in times like this, I have to be more careful. Even if it takes a little time, it would be useful to take the safe route.

The time to use the transcendence system will be after I have secured enough body-related characteristics.

I released the text window and walked out of the cocoon.

'You've definitely grown taller.'

Coming from a large and spacious research vessel to a narrow house like this, I could clearly feel that my body had grown larger. As I was shaking off the cocoon pieces stuck to my body, number 26 approached me.

｢Wow!｣

[Zuzuzuzu (How are you?)]

｢Is that the big baby I saw before? Isn't it going back this time?」

[Zuzuzu zuzuzu (Yes, it changed briefly back then)]

The guy waved his tentacles as if he was curious.

'huh? tentacle?'

Now that I think about it, No. 26's appearance has changed from before. The body, which was slightly smaller than a human head, also became larger. Additionally, two tentacles were sprouting from its body.

[Zuzuzuzu (What is that?)]

｢This? There was a new one!"

[Zuzu (when?)]

"It was created when I touched it when it was inside the egg."

After saying that and shaking off its tentacles, a wave of purple energy flowed out for a moment and then disappeared.

When I saw that, I was convinced.

'Sea Demon.'

That tentacle is probably a saw blade tentacle. It's small and cute compared to mine, but I know.

That there are sharp razor-like thorns hidden inside.

If you touch someone's face with those tentacles, the flesh will be torn right off.

More than that, I was curious.

'Why did it suddenly evolve?'

There must have been no special reason. What happened while I was in the cocoon? Even when I sensed the surroundings with my auxiliary organs, there were no special traces at all.

'You said you touched the egg while I was evolving, right?'

I don't know the exact cause, but I think it may have absorbed some of the energy generated as I evolved.

Since the relationship between the sea demons in the bubble amoeba has not been revealed, there is no way I know the conditions for evolution, so this is only a guess.

"Now I can protect my baby!"

No. 26 says that with confidence. I patted him, expressing my admiration for him.

'I expected it, but it was true.'

There was a time when I debated whether to eat it or not, but now I don't think about it.

'It still looks weak, but if it's a Sea Demon, it will help with strength.'

The size of the sea demon I saw was over 20 meters and had hundreds of tentacles. It would be very helpful if the giant monster that was treated as a quasi-boss in the game followed me.

I have no intention of giving up my genetic essence, but I should consider handing over unnecessary food.

[Zuzu zuzuzu zuzu (Then let's go eat)]

｢Okay.｣

Maybe it's because I just finished evolving, but I'm feeling hungry and feeling sick to my stomach.

He must have been hungry, so he answered my question right away. In fact, he must have been hungry since he must have only eaten one sandwich for over 6 hours.

I put No. 26 on my shoulder and opened the door of the house.

Appetizing food is waiting next door.