Chapter 383

The Metallic Gremlin’s strange behavior was not temporary.

In addition to the guys clinging to No. 26’s body, other guys were also circling around him. Among them was the leader of the group, ‘Taitabos’.

Regardless of whether they were leaders or subordinates, I did not feel any hostility from any of them.

Who could look at them and think of their notoriety as plunderers of the universe? The guys who were trying their best to bite me just now have become gentle sheep.

‘I don’t know what happened...’

These guys are crazy. Even if they aren’t hostile right away, you never know when they might go crazy.

I approached to get No. 26 out of the guys.

「■■■!」

「■■■!」

The reaction of the calm group became violent. It looked like it would attack me if I came any closer. Taitavos also began secreting substances that strengthened the group again.

“Don’t hit me!”

Number 26 saw this and hit them with its tentacles. The few gathered together instantly turned into corpses and floated in the weightless space.

Surprisingly, the metallic gremlins did not fight back. Even though they were aware that their compatriots were being destroyed right in front of their noses, they maintained a calm demeanor rather than attacking them.

Moreover, he stopped being wary of me. Even when I got closer, he just stayed still.

It was as if he was listening to orders from No. 26.

In the game, Sea Demons and Metallic Gremlins never encounter each other. This is because the habitat environments are completely different. The two species have nothing in common and are unable to communicate with each other.

‘Even if the conversation gets through, there’s no reason for them to listen to No. 26.’

If that were the case, I would have known this a long time ago when I was fighting a group of metallic gremlins. The group here is unique.

‘Let’s start with number 26.’

[Zuzuzuz zuzuz (It’s dangerous, come here)]

「Yes.」

Number 26 heard what I said and moved its fins and approached me. The guys that were attached to him and the other group followed behind him like baby birds following their mother.

No matter how many times I watched it again, it was clear that they were following No. 26.

「Enemy」「Let your guard down」「Now」「Opportunity」

[zuzuzu zuzuzu (wait a moment)]

Adhai tried to resume the attack with a vicious wave of thoughts, so I stopped him.

I’m not sure exactly how this happened, but at least one thing is clear.

‘It wasn’t sent by the rankers.’

There is no reason for the returning faction or the ruling faction to do something like this.

“Aimov, wait a minute.”

At that time, Heavenly Mother called me.

[Z(Why?)]

「That Taitabos, he looks like the guy I saw when we fought at Kesha Arma before.’

[Z(What?)]

「I can tell by looking at the scar on his neck. “It’s a sign that I threw the priest’s golden spear and hit it.”

She was on the ship, watching Taitavos with her amber eyes.

‘That’s the group that fought back then?’

The group of metallic gremlins summoned by the returning faction’s ranker Cynthia with an unknown tool retreated during the fight. This is because Aadhai and No. 26 killed the person who called them out.

At the time, I assumed that the enemy had retreated because the tool that had summoned them was broken. Of course, I thought the tool would have broken into pieces.

‘It was said that the two of them killed and ate the enemy together.’

Due to the structure of Aadhai’s body, it is not suitable for swallowing bulky objects. He probably sucked the blood or body fluids first, and then No. 26 ate the remains.

In the process, there may have been some interaction with the tool that summoned the metallic gremlin.

‘Let’s check.’

When Cynthia called Metallic Gremlin, what was he holding in his hand?

‘It was a silver orb.’

I think I know what the barbaric orb that rules Taitabos is talking about.

[Zuzuzu zuzu zuzu (Is it still in your body?)]

「It’s hard and round?」

[Zuzuzuzu zuzuzu zuzu (If it’s still there, can you take it out?)]

If it remains in the body without being digested yet, it can be taken out.

“I’ll try!”

The guy grunted and gave strength. A silver light is faintly visible from inside the trembling pink body.

Soon, a silver tentacle protruded from its body.

‘huh?’

“What was there before has changed so much!”

Tentacles colored in vivid silver, like the skin of a metallic gremlin. The ends were lumped together in the shape of a sphere. It looked as if the silver orb Cynthia was holding earlier had fused with the guy’s tentacles.

‘As it is digested, is it applied to the body as a characteristic?’

“Aimov, wait a minute.”

Then Isabel spoke to me.

“That tentacle is a barbaric orb. However, next to the name it says ‘transforming.’”

[Zuzu (mutation?)]

The guy continued speaking with blue light shining in his eyes.

“huh. “It seems that the properties of the equipment changed during the process of No. 26 digesting it.”

If you see that the orb-shaped object has turned into a tentacle, you can say that it has actually become a different object, or rather a different being, as he said.

[Zuzuzu Zuzuzu Zuzuzu (Can you check your abilities?)]

In response to my question, Isabel looked at the sphere again and frowned slightly.

“Maybe because it is not in a normal state, the tools are not working properly.”

[Zuzu Zuzuzu (as expected)]

“One thing is certain: as long as I have those tentacles, I can control a group of metallic gremlins.”

That has already been confirmed. Because the entire group regarded No. 26 as the leader.

Now I understand why he gnawed at me like crazy even though he knew he couldn’t win. This may have been because they mistakenly believed that No. 26 was trapped inside the ship.

[Zuzuzu Zuzuzu Zuzuzuzu (Is there a possibility that they will change?)]

“We need to check the entities outside as well, but I think the possibility of that happening is low. “He probably won’t resist even if I kill Taitabos.”

[Zuzuzu zuzuzuzu zuzuzu (That thing isn’t dangerous, right?)]

“It’s integrated with the body, so there shouldn’t be any problem.”

While Isabelle and I were talking, Number 26 put the tentacle that had been pulled out back into its body.

I had a sneaking desire to see what would happen if I cut off the sphere at the end of the tentacle, but I didn’t act on it.

Isabel said that the tool was not normal. If you separate it for no reason and a problem occurs in its function, you will be wasting a valuable weapon.

And there is no big difference whether I control those silver monsters through him or if I steal the item and control them myself.

‘An army of metallic gremlins.’

In any case, the band of space marauders has become mine. If you use it well, it will be a great help when invading the territory of Megacorp or Star Union.

‘good.’

Now that I’ve confirmed that they’re not dangerous, I’ve decided to leave this matter to rest.

Now there are two things left to do in this star system.

Checking the properties obtained by eating the Metallic Gremlin, and taking rocks floating in outer space and feeding them to the Mountain Crawler.

‘Oh, now that I think about it....’

I had forgotten because we were busy fighting, but we are not the only ones here.

Three drifting ships with broken propellers are waiting outside.

“Watch next episode”