Chapter 271:

Chapter 271:

“Everyone, fall back! Gahhh!”

“The retreat is blocked!”

A cyborg with five additional arms let out a wail and charged toward the mercenaries. A wolf with three extra joints in its legs climbed onto a container and lunged from above. While the mercenaries were distracted by other infected, a human with a broken jaw and a second mouth growing inside ambushed them from behind.

The number of mutants was over 100, nearly a third of the forces that had boarded the train.

The remaining personnel couldn’t even make it this far, either severely mutated to the point of immobility or killed by attacks from other mutants.

Just as I cannot control the changes in my mimicry organs, the mutations are equally uncontrollable. Infected beings mutate completely at random, not necessarily into the most efficient forms.

‘Not everything turns out perfect.’

Even if the mutations aren’t always efficient, the combat power of the mutants isn’t bad. Depending on which parts have transformed, they can move as fast as wild animals and tear human bodies apart.

Of course, that’s only true for close combat. If the enemy launches a full barrage, it’s hard to survive as long as we’re still living organisms. Destroy the head or heart, and they stop functioning. Initially, the enemies aimed their shots at key areas like the head and heart.

If I hadn’t been here, they would have won. The opposing side has plenty of seasoned mercenaries. They would have found a way to overcome the situation.

“Damn it! They’re too fast!”

“They’re allies! Don’t shoot!”

But now, the mercenaries were floundering, unable to deal with the mutants properly.

That was because of me.

‘Messenger of Mass Confusion.’

The waves flowing from my tentacles were playing with everyone’s minds and senses. Even though the mercenaries could see enemies right in front of them, they couldn’t distinguish friend from foe. The mutants were no longer fighting amongst themselves and instead focused solely on the mercenaries.

This was all because the psychic waves I emitted distorted their senses.

“G-Guhhh?”

A mutant with hundreds of fangs sprouting from a vertically split face attacked a mercenary from behind. The mercenary flailed his arms, trying to escape, but it was useless. The sharp teeth crushed his skull and spine, tearing them apart.

“What the hell?!”

“Damn it all!”

The mercenaries were horrified by the sheer strength of the mutants. While they focused on them, I slowly approached the group.

One mercenary was nearby, too distracted by the monsters in front of him. He had the head of a rat and was shooting at the creatures on top of the containers, unaware of me.

Silently, I crept up and lashed out with a tentacle.

“Mmpph?!”

The tentacle, resembling an octopus arm, wrapped around his neck. Before he could scream, the tip of my tentacle plunged into his mouth.

“......!”

As the three-pronged tip gagged him, the mercenary convulsed, choking. Meanwhile, the mutation virus I produced was transferring to its new host.

“Graaaargh!”

The tentacle wasn’t attached for long. As soon as it released him, the mercenary collapsed onto the ground, vomiting. A mixture of partially digested food and a black tar-like substance spilled from his mouth.

“Ughhh! Gaaaah! H-Help... me....”

“Hey! Are you okay?”

A fellow mercenary rushed over, seeing his companion spew black liquid uncontrollably and hurried to support him.

For a mercenary, he was a kind soul, but in this situation, that wasn’t exactly a smart move.

“We need to inject the antidote, now...”

“Krrrkrrkrrk...”

“Huh? What the...?”

The supporting mercenary’s body twisted grotesquely. His spine grew at an alarming rate, piercing through his flesh and armor to become exposed. Like a cobra rearing up, his spine and head now stood tall above his shredded upper body.

The mercenary who was watching in shock was struck by the spine and sent flying. Without resistance, he crashed into a container. I kindly ensured his bent body would join his friend.

“Krrrkrrrkkrrk.”

The newly mutated mercenary growled like a beast. I intended to use the psychic waves to mislead him into targeting the other mercenaries.

“Krrrkrrk...”

At the same moment, the three-pronged black tentacle engulfed his face.

---

“Haaa... I’m going to grab a drink.”

“Sure.”

At the 8th Environmental Control Station, responsible for security over oxygen supply and gravity maintenance systems in the surrounding military port, things were as calm as usual. Inside the diamond-shaped building, pirates moved about routinely.

One pirate with a large belly paused before leaving and asked his companions.

“Should I grab one for you too?”

“That stuff tastes like two-day-old urine, no thanks.”

“...How do you know that, senior?”

“Live as a pirate for more than a year, and you’ll learn all the unpleasant things.”

Leaving his grumbling companions behind, the large pirate headed out of the control room.

He walked down a pristine hallway and opened a refrigerator at the far end. Grabbing a palm-sized energy drink can, he glanced around before sneaking out another bottle from inside.

Stuffing the synthetic liquor bottle under his jacket, he hurried to the restroom. Once inside, he sat on the toilet and uncapped the bottle, downing its contents in one go.

"Krreeeh!"

A blaze traveled from his tongue down his throat and oesophagus. He quickly cracked open the drink can and took a gulp.

"Ahhh, that's the stuff."

The environmental control station is a critical facility, essential to maintaining the lives of the fortress residents. If this place were compromised, the safety of not just the military port but also the surrounding areas couldn’t be guaranteed.

The rotund pirate knew this well. If the deputy leader, Kadun, found out, he’d rip him apart. In fact, even if the deputy didn’t, the station chief would surely eject him into space.

But the pirate, a severe alcoholic, cared more about satisfying his immediate cravings than worrying about future consequences.

After draining both the energy drink and the synthetic liquor, he exited the stall with a flushed face. If he returned to the control room like this, his dimwitted comrades would surely notice. He turned the faucet on and splashed water onto his face, scrubbing it vigorously.

"That should do it."

With his complexion somewhat restored, he stepped out of the restroom.

"Huh?"

On his way back to the control room, he noticed something odd. The emergency exit door at the end of the hallway was open.

‘Did someone sneak out for a smoke?’

Major facilities in Kesha Arma, like this one, have bunkers for emergencies. That emergency exit leads to a bunker that provides a safe space for personnel working in both the military port’s subway station and the environmental control station.

"I’ll ask about it later."

After confirming no one was in the emergency exit, he locked the door.

Whistling, he strolled back toward the control room.

"These bastards slacking off... Who smokes in the control—"

He flung open the door, ready to scold his comrades.

He definitely would’ve done so—if what he saw inside had been his comrades.

Instead of the familiar backs of his colleagues, something else entirely sat there. So large, even hunched over, its back brushed the ceiling of the control room.

‘It’ sat upon the remains of his once-living comrades, their bodies mangled beneath it. With massive fingers resembling hooks, the creature was manipulating the control room’s computers. Slowly, it turned its head.

“I didn’t expect there to be one left. A miscalculation due to lack of information.”

A grotesque voice emerged from the monstrous creature with the head of a beautiful woman, her neck twisting unnaturally as she spoke.

“W-w-who, wh-what are you?”

“Analysis complete. Your body contains ample nutrients.”

The creature pressed its hook-like claws down on the blood-soaked keyboard.

“I’ll be taking your energy.”

The door behind the pirate closed quietly.