Chapter 87

Chapter 87 Chapter 87 The moment Code Black initiated combat with the target, there was a girl in a red dress on the 50th floor’s aerial observatory of Monument. Despite her slender arms, legs, and petite face, anyone who saw her eyes would be terrified. “Psychic Control Web adjusting.” Because her eyes resembled those of a chameleon rather than human eyes. Her eyes moved incessantly, scanning the administrative cityscape below. This peculiar-looking girl was none other than Code Red, one of the secret weapons of the Yujin family. Above her head, a distinct violet halo floated. If anyone capable of detecting psychic power were present, they would have undoubtedly seen the thin psychic power threads extending from her, forming a web with a radius of 1 km. Code Red lacked the potential to receive genetic traits from Gallagon like Code Black, performing joint operations, or Code White, who had already died. Instead, she received genetic modifications related to combat assistance to support other shadows. One of these modifications was the Angel Spider. It was a carnivorous animal that inhabited jungle planets and had the ability to create psychic power threads. Creatures caught in the psychic web spread by the Angel Spider would be controlled by the spider and become prey without resistance. Unlike the original, Code Red didn’t have the ability to control other creatures. Instead, she gained the ability to detect and control the flow of psychic powers in vast areas beyond even a spider’s capacity. Thanks to this skill, known as the Psychic Control Web, Code Red took on the role of supporting other shadows from the rear. Her usual task was to continuously relay information about the target to Code Black, but not this time. Someone had disrupted the extensive control web she had unfolded. ‘I detect psychic powers as strong as mine. Unable to detect the target.’ It was like someone throwing a stone at a spider’s web. Even if the web was damaged by the stone, the spider couldn’t tell who did it or how to prevent it. She found herself in a situation akin to being the owner of a ruined spider web. The only relief was that her opponent didn’t seem as adept at manipulating psychic powers as she was. If it were her, she might have attempted to reverse control of the web, but her opponent didn’t try to wrest control from her. ‘Focus on restoration first.’ Anything else, if the spiritual synchronization linked to Black was severed, would be catastrophic. She focused on restoring the control web while keeping an eye on Black. “?” But then, something new entered her detection zone. Her gaze turned towards the black sky. In the artificially created darkness, a green-shining star appeared. “A star?” She recognized the identity of the green spacecraft well. With large wings, a nimble body, four horns, and a tail, the presence was a Green Gallagon. Emerging from an unknown place, the Green Gallagon was rapidly flying towards the Monument. [Enemy approach detected. Engaging interception.] Intuitively identifying Green Gallagon as an adversary, Red ceased spiritual synchronization and responded accordingly. She reached for the elongated rifle and sniper coil gun she had placed nearby. Loading tungsten rounds filled with condensed plasma, she aimed the coil gun into the air and fired. Oddly, the projectiles autonomously changed trajectory, heading toward the target as she manipulated their path using the Psychic Control Web. As the Green Gallagon approached in the sky, the plasma rounds detonated. [Target eliminated.] Thinking she had taken down the target, green light burst from the smoke cloud caused by the explosion. “Hmm?” Disregarding the plasma burst, the entity swiftly closed the distance towards her. “Re-engaging fire.” Confirming the target’s survival, Red continuously fired the coil gun. The sight of dozens of oval-shaped projectiles soaring from the muzzle in silver seemed like a reversed playback of a meteor shower. She had believed her shots would eliminate the entity, but reality diverged from her expectations. If the Monument’s higher-ups get to know that such an important place is in danger, they will undoubtedly mobilize the defense fleet. This includes not only ground forces but also the small-scale orbital ships. Moreover, my time is running out. In about three minutes, the effect of the ‘Symbol of the Hunt’ will end, and then I will turn into dust from the plasma shot by the battleship. Of course, I took countermeasures against that. ‘Since I sent Adhai to the Monument.’ Adhai went to Monument to confront Code Red. ‘To teleport through spiritual tuning, you need to be in a location where you can monitor the battlefield in real time.’ The only place where that’s possible is the tallest building in the Administrative District, the Monument. Most likely, Code Red, like Black, also has the ability to see distant objects. ‘Self-defense mechanisms would be related to that.’ Spiritual tuning, long-range detection capabilities—these are all technologies useful for fighting at a distance. Therefore, the defense of Code Red is likely to be a long-range attack weapon, such as a gun. ‘Adhai is the perfect counter to Code Red.’ The Green Gallagon specialized in hit-and-run tactics based on speed. Just as the young Blue Gallagon has the ability to call its kin due to its small size, the Green Gallagon is characterized by its exceptionally high speed. Moreover, its ‘Hyper-Acceleration’ attribute triples its already fast flight speed, making it challenging to catch the Green Gallagon unless with a wide-ranging area attack. ‘Plus, Adhai’s small size makes intercepting it much more difficult.’ Unlike mutants, the non-mutant Green Gallagon can grow up to 10 meters, resulting in a wider hit area despite its speed. However, Adhai, including the tail, is about the size of a middle schooler and its wing length doesn’t even reach 2 meters. With such a narrow hit area, it won’t be easy to shoot it down even with androids or battleships targeting it. ‘If combat occurs in the airspace above Monument, the defense fleet can’t help but focus there.’ Before sending Adhai, I cautioned it. I told it to flee if metallic-smelling masses approach. From what I know, the Green Gallagon is faster than a Megacorp Frigate. Apart from the Green Gallagon, only the Cult’s frigate and the Esserton’s high-speed frigate are faster, neither of which exists in this cosmic city. ‘It’s intelligent, so it should be able to escape unharmed.’ While Adhai buys time, I need to eliminate Black and find a way out of this city. ‘Given that battleships are not visible even after this situation has occurred...’ A deadly virus has spread throughout the entire city since the previous battle in the sewers. Probably, the spread of the epidemic to the defense fleet happened faster than my estimation, causing problems in the command structure. ‘No, let’s focus on the immediate matter.’ The battle isn’t over yet. Moments after the black mist disappeared in front of me, I sensed movement from inside the ruins nearby. It was the resurrection of Black, turning into a Necrospecter due to the unique effect of the Black Shroud. 「Big baby, I sense a naughty swordsman nearby.」 Number 26, who emerged from the pit, seemed to sense something similar and signaled. Simultaneously with its signal, the debris in the ruins exploded with a rumble. A black figure walked out of the flames. Black’s appearance had changed significantly from before her death. Her white skin had turned as black as the Black Shroud, and her eyes were glowing red. “Recognition, sssss, I will do, sss, it, sss, please.” Her voice was filled with a hissing noise, like a snake. While some sanity seemed to remain, she appeared slightly uneasy. “Forgive, forgive, forgive, can’t, sssss, forgive? Forgive, can’t, sss, I, special, special being, being?!” No, let me correct that. Due to the Necrospecter mode, she was properly insane. Her body, muttering incomprehensible words, began to twist suddenly. It was as if a Hulk mutant was mutating when entering combat. Upon close examination, she had the ‘Physical Transformation’ trait. When becoming a Necrospecter, the unstable trait prevents the proper use of the original characteristics. Problems such as skills not activating at all or the effects of passive traits changing unpredictably occur. It seemed that the Body Transformation trait was also affected by the instability. [ZZZZ ZZZZ (Be cautious, it’s a formidable enemy)] 「Yeah, be careful too, big baby.」 Although the time for the mutation was short, Code Black’s appearance was no longer human, nor was it easy to categorize her as a Hulk mutant. The four pupils on her face all turned towards me simultaneously. “Die, die, sssss, die? I, Akira’s, sss, die! Most special, sssss, Sha-ah-ah!” The creature created by the Yujin family, a monstrous being, roared at us.