I Became an Evolving Space Monster

Chapter 64

In the game Space Survival, all traits and skills exist within specific categories. For instance, the wings I initially obtained and special traits like the chitinous exoskeleton fall under the Physical category, while the psychic power organ I gained by devouring Keisaragi belong to the Psychic category.

Among these categories, the most potent and strongest traits are concentrated in the Abyssal Force and Dragon Power categories, where exclusive Vortex One’s traits and traits of the Red Gallagon are found.

Vortex Ones are the species that appear as bosses in the final mission for Outspacers. As boss-exclusive entities, they naturally exhibit overwhelming power. The Red Gallagon is one of the most formidable creatures in the game, posing a significant challenge even for high-rank players. Consequently, the powers of these two entities are not accessible to regular players.

Even the Dragon Power of the Red Gallagon can only be used to a limited extent by the Cult, and that too through a specific artifact acquired with a low probability in the late-game quest. Only a handful of players would have access to it.

Now, let’s slightly modify the question. Among the categories containing traits and skills accessible to players, which one is the most powerful? The answer to this question may vary among high-rankers, but most would likely point to the Psychic category.

The Psychic category offers a variety of versatile traits and skills applicable in various situations. While the Physical category also provides potent techniques, it has decisive limitations. It leans heavily toward physical attacks and defenses, making it vulnerable to non-material assaults.

On the other hand, Psychic powers can exert formidable physical force while possessing destructive capabilities against the mind, soul, and more. Due to this imbalanced game structure, Outspacers and StarUnions’ cyborgs, who cannot obtain Psychic powers directly, became increasingly disadvantaged in the late game, relying solely on equipment to counter Psychic powers.

Players who choose biological races like MegaCorps can acquire Psychic powers through genetic modification. However, competing without Psychic powers against them is naturally challenging.

One drawback of Psychic traits and skills is that obtaining them is not easy. However, this issue can be resolved if you play as a Cultist.

‘Wasn’t the Cultist user base around 30% in the game?’ Rankers, in particular, had a much higher proportion of being Cult members compared to regular users. Considering that 9 out of 20 rankers in the game were Cultists, one can guess how popular the Cult faction was. Notably, one of these nine was a Korean, a fact I deduced because I competed directly against him.

This Korean Cultist proved to be a formidable opponent. His skills surpassed my expectations of him as a high ranker. His creative use of psychic powers, often associated with traits like telekinesis and telepathy, introduced me to new strategies during our intense battles, despite my eventual victory, I learned a lot from our fights, he also broke my misconception that ‘Cultists may have good equipment, but there are a few cult players who are actually skilled.’

While I already utilized psychic traits, my understanding increased significantly after battling this Korean Cultist. Now, applying this experience, I sought to become a ‘Perfect organism’ for the application of Psychic Enhancement Type, enhancing all my psychic power traits. It is a necessity if one wants to properly use traits related to psychic powers.

While I often utilized psychic traits, my understanding of psychic powers increased significantly after battling the Korean Cultist. Anyway, it’s time to start applying the experience I gained back then.

‘To properly use traits related to psychic powers, a Type is necessary.’

Acquiring the Psychic Enhancement Type makes me a complete organism for its application, enhancing all the psychic power traits I possess.

There are currently two external devices on my body for using psychic powers: the auxiliary organ below my chin and the cluster of tentacles at the back of my head. Though there weren’t any significant changes to the auxiliary device, the tentacles related to the ‘Monstrous Tentacles’ trait underwent substantial changes.

Firstly, the shape of the exoskeleton covering my head transformed.The Previously smooth and simple structure, now expanded more widely to protect the tentacles at the back of my head.

Additionally, intricate patterns and grooves appeared on the outer surface, giving it a more complex appearance than before. If the previous head exoskeleton could be linked to a helmet with a horn at the center, the current design resembled that of a giant crown.

Though the size will decrease once the effects of the ‘Symbol of Hunt’ ends, the fact that the appearance has become more impressive than before, made me satisfied. Along with the changes to the exoskeleton that covered my head,the tentacles also underwent significant changes; they became thicker, longer, and more vibrant purple in color.

As soon as the transformation of the tentacles concluded, my entire body felt a tingling sensation. The psychic power resistance enhancement effect manifested itself on the exterior in the form of a vivid purple tattoo on the monochrome exterior.

The tattoo, following the course of veins, was etched across my entire body. Though I was not able to see it because my vision, which was currently obscured due to the effect of the ‘Symbol of the Hunt’, but the developed auxiliary organ allowed me to feel the changes in my body as if I were seeing them directly.

With these enhancements, I gained a heightened sensitivity to psychic energies around me, perceiving faint purple energies that were previously unseen, even in situations where the cultists aren’t directly using psychic powers, I can detect psychic powers.

In the game, it was limited to simply highlighting psychic power users on the mini-map in violet. But in reality, I could experience the same astonishment and freshness I felt when I first came inside the game and became a Hatchling.

‘With this level of sensitivity I might be able to detect the psychic power users even before they attack me, it would be highly useful when fighting against the Cult members.’

Originally, I could detect the flow of psychic powers with my auxiliary organ, but it was not as precise as it is now. It will be much easier to fight against Cultists or enemies using psychic powers in the future.

Satisfied with obtaining the type, I ascended to the first floor of the hospital. The metallic absorption effect is still ongoing. Now, all that’s left is to return to the nest where the kids are waiting.

Just as I was about to step out into the lobby, my senses picked up a strange feeling.

[Twenty knights wearing advanced silver reinforced armors emerge from the alley.]

[A knight with bikini-shaped armor at the front speaks, “Divide into three groups. Group 1 with me, Group 2 with Tennessee, and Group 3 with Paris.”]

[The knight with an eagle shaped armor responds, ” Understood. Group 2, this way”.]

[The knight with a shield says, ” Sir Jacob, People are gathering around the hospital”.]

[The knight, Jacob responds, “Reporters, I presume. Leave their handling to the police”.]

With that, the sensation, like watching a sped-up video, stopped.

‘Predator Sense?’

The method of displaying the video is the only similarity, though it is also too detailed; everything else is different.

‘Predator Sense’ activates only when there is any life-threatening situation. Moreover, it doesn’t show the future as it did now but rather depict a fragmented representation of the upcoming danger.

What I just saw was much more detailed than usual. It showed who was speaking, where they were coming from—everything.

‘Did Predator Sense also get influenced by the effect of the ‘Symbol of the Hunt’?’

The ‘Symbol of the Hunt’ enhances all the traits I possess, and with the psychic enhancement type I just got, ‘Predator Sense’ might have improved too, depicting a future danger more precisely than it usually used to do .

‘If that’s the case,then there is still time for them to arrive.’

One might suggest fleeing during that time, but if I did, Predator Sense wouldn’t have been triggered.

‘There’s a station near the path they’re taking.’

The concealment effect is still active, but the issue is that they can detect me. Going out like this will undoubtedly expose me.

‘Fighting them isn’t the problem, but…’

There are too many enemies. Even if I manage to annihilate them somehow, the time of the concealment effect would most likely be over during the fight.

‘Even if I go around them, there is still group three consisting of six knights waiting in front of the station, there’s no way I can avoid a fighting with them.

‘The real issue is the time.’

I’m still under the effects of the ‘Symbol of Hunt’, so I could easily kill the six knights, but killing without alerting anyone is the main problem.

Originally, I came to the hospital to avoid exposing my identity to the city. If I boldly reveal myself while claiming to escape unharmed, it would be a clear contradiction.

‘Should I call the kids?’

The current time is 10:30 PM.

At this time, the station should be under inspection because of the upcoming council meeting. Since the council meeting hasn’t started yet, there is a high possibility of inspection today as well.

‘I was previously caught here only at this time.’

Before coming here, I explained this to Number 26. I told them to come out if the station is dark when I contact it.

Sea demons, creatures living in the deep sea, are sensitive to light. Probably, Number 26 can detect a broader spectrum of light than me, so there shouldn’t be difficulty following the plan.

‘But words and reality are two different things. I need to time the signal well.’

Our coordinated operation is not bad, but for it to succeed, it’s crucial that I give the signals appropriately.

‘With the improved auxiliary organ, if I focus, it won’t be difficult to grasp the situation inside the station… No, wait.’

At that moment, a different thought suddenly occurred to me. I tried emitting the usual wavelength through which I talk to Number 26.

[ZZZZ ZZZ (Are you there?)]

｢…Big baby?｣

[ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ (Hey, listen to me okay?)]

｢Hey, big baby, what’s going on?｣

‘It worked!’

I thought It might not work, but just in case, I tried it, and it was successful .

The means by which I communicated with Number 26 was through the psychic organ which I got after killing Keisaragi Yujin. When I didn’t have this organ, I could only hear what Number 26 used to say, but it was impossible for me to talk to it.

Currently, even though it has been reborn as a tentacle of a monster, the communication ability from before still remains. Thanks to this, I’ve been using it well when communicating with Number 26.

I had forgotten about it because I used it so naturally.

Also, the function that helps me communicate with it is also a target for the application of the effects of psychic power enhancement that I just got.

｢Are you on your way to the nest?｣

[ZZZZZ ZZZZZ Z ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ(No, there’s something else I need to do right now)]

｢What? Do you need help?｣

In this way, I don’t need to bother timing my call to Number 26. I can just speak directly with it when needed.

I told Number 26 that I would give it a signal soon, so be prepared. While it is preparing, I also need to get ready.

‘Just in case, let’s check all the traits I’ve gained until now.’

When the text box initially passed by, I thought there was no immediate need for traits like ‘Insight’ so I ignored it since there was plenty of time to check when I got back to the nest. However, now that the situation has changed. I might be late for the nest, so I should check them right now.

The number of traits I obtained from the hospital, excluding the ones I got from William is five. I got three from the knights and two from the civilians I killed at the hospital.

The ‘Symbol of the Hunt’ raises the probability of activating predation effect but it does not make it 100% obtainable.Even if I’ve eaten many people this time, the likelihood of the predation effects activating for every one of them is very low.

Still, I obtained a surprisingly large number of traits in a short time as compared to usual.

‘Let’s Apply all of them quickly and get out.’

I looked at the text box and quickly scanned the contents.

[Predation Effect Activated! Successfully obtained ‘Space Bacteria’ genetic essence.]

[Do you want to apply ‘Space Bacteria’?]

[Predation Effect Activated! Successfully obtained ‘Fire Breath’ genetic essence]

[Do you want to apply ‘Fire Breath’?]

[Predation Effect Activated! Successfully obtained ‘Endurance’ genetic essence.]

[Do you want to apply ‘Endurance’?]

[Predation Effect Activated! Successfully obtained ‘Thorn Hair’ genetic essence]

[Do you want to apply ‘Thorn Hair’?]

[Predation Effect Activated! Successfully obtained ‘Pheromone Enhancement’ genetic essence.]

[Do you want to apply ‘Pheromone Enhancement’?]

‘No need to ask further. Apply them all.’

When I obtained the ‘Perfect Organism’, the text box left me with these words.

‘There is no end to evolution.’

The body has evolved once again due to all the newly acquired genetic essence.