I Became an Evolving Space Monster
Chapter 412

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[Translator – Seraph]

[Proofreader – Draxx]

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Chapter 412

The new home I built after a long while wasn’t bad at all.

Most of the pirates who entered the research complex were caught in the traps I had set and smashed to pieces. Aside from a few who managed to flee, the rest became the new hosts for my adorable Hiveformers.

It was an anticlimactic end, considering they were part of a cartel tied to the Player.

‘Though I suppose it was to be expected.’

Really, I couldn’t blame them. Who would even imagine that everything around them was a living organism?

While linked with the Nest, I focused my senses on the damaged buildings from the recent battle. The black liquid coating the structures shifted, replacing the broken sections. Before long, all traces of combat in the complex were erased.

Those buildings had been created using a newly acquired Nest-related general trait, Biogarden. With this trait, I could shape structures within the Nest exactly as I imagined. The guard towers and laboratories the pirates had visited were all my creations.

‘Though they’re really just illusions in shape—no special functions.’

For example, even if I made something that looked like a plasma turret, it couldn’t actually fire plasma rounds.

And although they appeared solid, their durability was no different from that of any standard Nest structure. Easily broken and highly flammable.

To make up for that, I had to incorporate other traits—like Fortification.

Fortification, a composite trait belonging to the special defense category, enhanced the cohesion of the Amorph’s mucus, making it significantly tougher.

With this trait, the cocoons formed during growth, as well as the Nest itself, gained a major boost in durability.

‘When combined, these traits even make it easier to disguise the Nest as a city.’

In the game, I used to raze small cities on planets and reshape the Nest to resemble one—just like now. From space, it would unmistakably look like a real city, perfect for luring in enemies.

‘If only I could change the color, it’d be perfect.’

Unfortunately, not even traits can alter the color of the mucus. The Nest’s color is always fixed—black.

‘Not that it matters here, with this awful climate.’

No matter where you go, it’s constantly raining, and the ground is a muddy mess. The thick storm clouds make it so dark that even white buildings appear black. It’s hard to tell whether something is part of the Nest or not.

Besides, the detail in the structures far exceeded what I could produce in the game. Thanks to the Amorph’s exquisite sensory precision, I could replicate the fine details of actual buildings.

‘Even a Player would have a hard time telling if this was a Nest or not.’

So imagine how clueless those pirates were. They fell for the traps exactly as I’d planned.

I had prepared two main traps for this batch of visitors: the Demon Tree and the Clown Pitcher Plant.

I unlinked and opened my eyes. Deep in the underground chamber, vibrant red trees stood out. Black threadworms scurried diligently beneath the crimson branches, which looked like maple leaves in full autumn bloom.

The Demon Tree trait generated carnivorous plants that looked like haunted trees straight out of a Western horror film.

Usually, they stood bare like old dead trees, but when a living creature approached, they instantly transformed. They skewered enemies with their needle-like branches and drank their blood. Those branches were laced with a fungus that prevented clotting, so once pierced, the victim bled even more.

The more blood they drank, the harder their bark became and the sharper their thorns grew. The more enemies were pierced, the stronger the tree became.

Part of the energy the trees harvested was sent back to me through the Nest. That’s thanks to a material component called Human Sacrifice, whose effect carried over.

‘Next up: the Clown Pitcher Plant.’

The ground of the Nest was filled with multicolored glowing pitcher plants. Fine particles hovered around them, released from their mouths.

According to the setting, those particles induce extreme itching upon contact. The sensation doesn’t stop until the affected area is torn off. That’s why it’s called the Clown Pitcher Plant—because it drives victims mad.

Of course, it only works on exposed flesh. It’s useless against enemies who aren’t showing skin, and androids or machines that don’t feel itchiness are naturally immune.

But that’s not a concern. The Demon Trees and Hiveformers take care of that just fine.

At any rate, the intruders were annihilated. The only ones left were the command unit of the Shinoni Cartel, who had sent their subordinates here.

I had one of the Hiveformers activate the communicator.

“How’s our prep coming along?”

｢Complete. All communications networks in the planet’s major cities are under my control.｣

As soon as we arrived at AG-01, PS-111 had gone to work taking over the planetary communications grid. It even seized control of the satellites. Now, the planet’s entire communications system was under its control. That meant not just blocking messages within the planet—but even those sent to outer space.

‘Blocking them is the least of it.’

Thanks to the ‘Disruption Spine’ I’d implanted in it, it could directly interfere with enemy transmissions. It proved incredibly useful again this time.

The pirates thought they were receiving orders from their command, but that was a lie.

Ever since stepping into the Nest, every communication they received had been a manipulated order crafted by a third party. PS-111 impersonated a subordinate to the cartel’s command, and a superior officer to the agents on the field—deceiving both sides flawlessly.

‘I expected it would be useful, but I didn’t think it would use the tactic so skillfully.’

Even the few who escaped the traps were tricked into running into a minefield and died. Meanwhile, the pirates at the port still believed the research complex personnel were carrying out their duties without issue.

“I didn’t think you’d be that good at this. I’m impressed.”

｢The mission was successful thanks to a very useful reference manual.｣

“A reference manual?”

｢Yes. I developed my dialogue algorithms based on the behavior of the Amorph and the reactions of its victims.｣

In other words, it had copied me.

‘Looks like I’ve got a new pupil.’

The last one to say they wanted to learn from my tactics was Adhai.

｢I hope you’ll continue to provide further data going forward.｣

“I’ll try. Anyway, you said you’ve seized full control of the comms?”

｢Correct. I can restrict or modify any transmission as I see fit.｣

“Can you also tamper with outgoing signals? Like transmissions sent off-world?”

｢Yes. I’ve secured the communication satellites.｣

In short, no matter what happens here, nothing will leak out.

｢Are you planning to attack the port?｣

“I won’t be going myself.”

｢?｣

More precisely, parts of me will be going.

The heads on either side of me began to move, having read my intent.

***

｢This is Josh. We've secured the Northeast Sector Control Center.｣

｢Shepherd here. We've also taken over the Southwest Sector Control Center.｣

With the steady stream of good news, Ventris smiled.

“What happened to the separatists?”

｢They clashed with the guards and wiped each other out. Survivors are minimal.｣

“Heh, just as planned.”

The main goal of this operation was to pit the planetary defense force against the separatists, since both were obstacles to the Shinoni Cartel’s takeover of the planet.

“See? Told you I was right.”

“……”

The officer standing beside him remained silent, his face tense as he stared at the hologram.

“What’s got you so sour when everything’s going smoothly?”

“…No matter how I look at it, something’s not right.”

“Like what, exactly?”

The officer pointed at the moving markers on the holographic map. While a few red symbols indicated casualties, most of the units were still alive and active.

“You mean because the troop locations look off?”

“They claim the separatists used decoy drones, but as far as I know, there’s no weapon that scrambles bio-signals like this. And the range….”

“Come on, they confirmed it was new tech from Star Union. What more do you want?”

“Still…”

Frustrated by the officer’s doubt, Ventris’s face twisted into a deep scowl.

“Seems like you’re pissed things didn’t go to hell, huh?”

“W-what?”

“You thought the plan would fail, and now that it's going well, you're pissed? That it?”

“N-no, sir!”

Only then did the officer realize he had overstepped. He quickly bowed his head.

“Didn’t I say I’m considering all variables?”

“I… I only spoke out of concern for your safety—”

“Concern, my ass. You think I’m easy just ’cause I’ve let it slide?”

Ventris glared at the officer with an icy stare and swung his arm. The augmented armor he wore groaned with a chilling metallic sound.

It was easy to forget that the Shinoni Cartel, despite its organized operations, was still a pirate group at heart. Ventris was no different. He only pretended to listen because this mission mattered.

“I was wrong, pl—Guh!”

The officer couldn’t even finish his apology. The underboss had punched him square in the gut.

The blow sent him flying into the opposite wall.

“I kept you around because you had a brain. Got cocky, didn’t you?”

Ventris wore a top-tier, heavily modified exosuit. Even a casual punch could turn someone into a pulp.

Satisfied with smashing the annoying officer, he called to the team stationed below.

｢Sir, is something wrong?｣

“Nothing. Have you taken control of the compound’s anti-air cannons?”

｢Yes. As soon as the transport arrives, we can start moving the goods.｣

“Good. Then, send the—”

Just as he was about to order the transport, the hologram flickered. So did the warehouse lights.

And then… Everything went dark.

“Son of a bitch!”

It wasn’t just the warehouse. All hologram and comms devices had gone dead.

Cursing, Ventris donned the helmet attached to his exosuit and tried contacting the units at the research complex via its built-in comms.

“Power’s out in the warehouse. Might be a delay before we send the transport.”

｢No ne… zzzt …eed… kkkzzzhhh｣

“What was that? You're breaking up.”

｢Unnecessary… zzzkkk …funny, haha… shhhhhh｣

“What the fuck is this now?!”

The voice on the other end twisted unnaturally before cutting off completely. Tapping the device did nothing but produce harsh static.

Just then, some subordinates rushed in from the first floor.

“Sir! The power’s out!”

“I know! One of you—hand me your comm.”

They handed over their comms, but they were all the same—dead.

Communications are down too?

Power failure was one thing. But losing comms? That was a whole different level. It meant something had gone wrong at the network’s core systems.

“What about the guys we sent to manage the comm array?”

“W-we couldn’t reach them, so we haven’t been able to confirm…”

“You useless bastards! Then go check it yoursel—”

Ventris’s yelling was drowned out by a sudden boom.

The floor beneath them trembled violently.

“An earthquake?!”

“No… that’s…”

Having hunted numerous deadly creatures, Ventris instantly sensed this wasn’t an earthquake.

The sound. The tremor. The sheer scale.

Only something massive moving and roaring could shake an entire warehouse like this.

The terrifying sound faded quickly, replaced by distant gunfire and screams outside the warehouse.

“Gather everyone who’s scattered and bring them to the first floor.”

He ordered his men, then grabbed his weapon and descended. Pirates in combat exosuits quickly assembled around him.

“Everyone here?”

“Yes, sir. All accounted for.”

About fifty had gathered—enough to bring down a monster like the Green Gallagon, rumored to be a space dragon.

“You three. Open the gate.”

Three pirates approached the massive warehouse gate and began operating the wall-mounted control panel. Others stood ready, weapons aimed.

The gate screeched open slowly, metal grinding on metal. Ventris and the rest held their breath, peering outside.

The screams and roars earlier weren’t lies.

The area outside was in ruins. A huge crater had torn through the tarmac. Around it, mangled corpses were strewn like trash.

“…You three, head out.”

“W-what?”

“What do you mean, what? I’ll send more with you. Move!”

Ventris added ten more to form a scout team.

No one wanted to go—everyone could tell it was a death sentence. But with Ventris and the rest aiming their weapons at them, there was no choice.

The scouting team crept forward, step by step.

Each step took them farther away, until they looked no larger than dots.

But the creature that attacked the warehouse still hadn’t shown itself.

The Shinoni pirates remained alert, eyes fixed on the darkness outside.

Veteran hunters knew this tension—waiting to draw out prey hidden in the dark.

But they’d made one mistake.

The monster wasn’t behind the black fog.

It was already close—too close.

As they watched the open gate, the wall behind them crumbled. Pirates stationed in the rear turned, startled.

From the dust and rubble… a massive hand lunged out and swallowed them whole.

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[Translator – Seraph]

[Proofreader – Draxx]

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