Chapter 235

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[Translator – Seraph]

[Proofreader – Draxx]

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Chapter 235

Although The Amorph is limited in how many nests it can create, the process itself isn’t particularly difficult.

Compared to the Outspacer, whose nesting conditions are extremely stringent, it’s almost like having no conditions at all.

However, just because the process is simple doesn’t mean that raising a proper nest is easy. The Amorph still has to consider various factors if it wants to grow a nest successfully.

Factors like its evolutionary stage, the energy it possesses, and the suitability of the surrounding environment all need to align to establish a large-scale nest.

And right now, I have fulfilled all the conditions to create the best possible nest.

There’s a lake here where the wounded Gallagon have gathered, which helps the slime spread easily.

But that’s not all. The dragon’s nest is located in an area with a high concentration of psychic power. The walls of this cavern, where I’m standing, are brimming with intense psychic energy, providing plenty of nourishment for the slime that has detached from my body.

In an instant, I dyed the lake black and attached symbiotic spores to the fallen Gallagon.

Some were so severely injured that I immediately threw them into the contaminated lake after implanting the symbiotic spores. Among them was Nel Germa.

「Black Kin」 「Nel Germa」 「Nest」 「Defense」 「Failed」

[ZZZ ZZZZZ (It’s okay. Don’t worry about it.)]

Nel Germa had a severe wound in her abdomen, so deep that her internal organs were visible. It was an injury that would have killed any creature not as robust as a Gallagon.

But not all of them were as resilient as she was.

「Great One」 「Kin」 「Dead」

Adhai sent a telepathic wave as she stood before the corpse of a Green Gallagon. Her deep sorrow echoed throughout the cavern.

‘So many have died.’

As I moved the wounded Gallagon, I counted the survivors. Including Nel Germa, only 13 adults had survived. Four White Gallagon and nine Green Gallagon.

Most of the Gallagon we had fought so hard to acquire had perished.

[ZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ (Adhai, check if the young ones are safe.)]

Since the Gallagon gave their lives to protect the nest, the young ones should be unharmed. They’re probably hiding, waiting for the nest to become safe again.

To comfort Adhai, who was overwhelmed by the loss of her kin, showing her that the Blue Gallagon were still alive would be far better than any words.

「Understood.」

「Great Adhai」 「This way.」

A relatively less injured Green Gallagon led Adhai away from the clearing.

‘I didn’t expect it to come to this.’

The greatest prize from hunting Odd Grad had actually been the Gallagon horde. My plan had been to lead them to attack apex creatures or space fortresses on other planets.

But those damn Screamers outside completely ruined my plans. Even if the young ones survived, it will take a long time for them to grow.

‘How dare they touch my Gallagon?’

It’s been a long time since I’ve been this furious. Not since my evolution was interrupted during a game have I felt such rage.

I won’t let those disgusting scraps of metal go unpunished.

‘There’s only one way to kill them all.’

I lay down on the lake, filled with sticky black liquid. As my secondary organ beneath my jaw touched the lukewarm slime, my senses were drawn downward.

My consciousness detached from my heavy carapace and the hard scales of my physical body, merging with the vast cavern and the expansive lake. My senses expanded further along the tunnels connected to the cavern.

How can I describe this feeling? It’s similar to the sensation when your body regains feeling as you wake up. In fact, it’s not all that different. My consciousness has passed into the nest, making the lake my heart and the black slime my limbs.

In the past, I have connected with nests in various places—MegaCorp research ships, space cities, and more—to observe and plan where and when to strike the enemies.

This time is no different.

Having successfully linked with the nest, I began to closely examine the structure of the Gallagon’s home.

I could sense what was happening along the network of tunnels branching out like an ant’s nest. The trembling Blue Gallagon, as large as Adhai, checking on their young and feeling relieved, and the completely empty caves.

‘No need to see everything.’

I shifted my focus away from Adhai and directed it toward the entrances in the cliffs.

[C Team encountered a fork. Moving right.]

[D Team found a cavern. Evidence of Gallagon activity detected.]

[E Team detected life signals 220 meters ahead. Preparing for combat.]

“E Team, continue tracking life signals. D Team, investigate activity traces.”

Despite the powerful psychic energy emanating from the Gallagon’s nest, there were no significant issues with their communications. This was due to the use of a unique psychic circuit derived from Sea Demon genetics.

And within 10 minutes of entry, a report came in from E Team, which had detected life signals.

「Identified as a symbiotic creature of Special Target A. Sample collected and transmitted.」

“Confirmed.”

PS-005 waited for the small drone to bring back the genetic sample. However, even after several minutes, there was no sign of the drone.

“Request confirmation from E Team. The sample transport drone has not arrived.”

「It was dispatched 5 minutes and 45 seconds ago.」

Five minutes should have been more than enough time for the drone to show up. PS-005 issued another command.

“Recheck the entry route.”

「Confirmed... anomaly detected.」

“Report the nature of the anomaly.”

「The passage... is... bzzt... changing... bzzt... re...scanning nee...bzzt」

“Circuit malfunction detected. Verify with other teams.」

「B Team reports no anomalies.」

「C Team reports no anomalies.」

「D Team reports... life signs detected 100 meters ahead. Preparing for comb...bzzt」

Now, even D Team’s communication was starting to experience interference, just like E Team.

This had never happened before, and PS-005 couldn’t help but feel uneasy.

Their communication circuits didn’t rely on ordinary mechanical devices. They used the biological organs within their bodies to communicate, making malfunctions seemingly impossible.

Hurriedly, it reported the situation to Pyra Eleven while issuing the standard command for such situations.

“D Team? Report again.”

「Bzzt... no issues... bzzt... confirming... bzzt」

“D Team, circuit malfunction detected. Please confirm again.”

「Confirmed. No circuit malfunction, but a new issue has arisen.」

“Report.”

「Structural changes in the nest have been detected.」

「E Team confirms that the entry route has changed. Initiating re-scan.」

Although communication had returned to normal, the reports that followed were baffling.

Structural changes in the nest? Unless it was a living organism, such a thing should be impossible.

But as more reports came in, PS-005 was forced to reconsider.

「B Team detects life signs from all directions.」

「C Team detects life signs... correction: life signs detected simultaneously 10 meters in front and behind.」

「D Team observes changes in the current terrain. Scanning function ineffective.」

「E Team detects life signs from all directions. Unpredictable. Unpredictable.」

「Unpredictable. Unpredictable. Unpredictable.」

All the PS-models were reporting the same thing.

The passage they were standing on, the vast Gallagon nest, was alive.

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[Translator – Seraph]

[Proofreader – Draxx]

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