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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator – Seraph]
[Proofreader – Draxx]
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Chapter 379
During the three days I waited for Sechan, I kept myself busy with various tasks.
I treated the Mountain Crawler’s injuries and established multiple nests across the planet to prepare for potential enemy incursions.
In the process of reinforcing my defenses against external threats, I also consumed several more creatures. As a result, I gained another useful trait in addition to Destroyer’s Carapace.
｢Destroyer’s Carapace: Generates a bio-metallic hide that protects the body. The carapace and body grow stronger with the digestion of refined metals.｣
｢Thermal Spine Carapace: Grows spines on the back that generate intense heat. These spines can be launched at specific targets.｣
Both traits are general physical adaptations that significantly alter my body. Because of this, my current form is quite different from when I first arrived on this planet.
With Destroyer’s Carapace active, my arms, legs, and torso have thickened overall. A red pattern, resembling molten lava flowing through rock, has formed across my entire body. The burning, furnace-like glow of the carapace makes me look similar to its previous owner the Magmasaur.
‘I liked this trait in the game, too.’
Even without the Transcendence System, Destroyer’s Carapace is an essential adaptation one of the best among general traits.
‘The more I fight, the stronger I get.’
Its effect, as stated in the tooltip, is simple:
Every time I consume artificially created alloys such as ship hulls or building materials my body continues to grow.
This growth effect applies instantly upon digestion, meaning that in the middle of battle, I can devour enemy ships and become progressively larger.
The rate of growth isn’t dramatic consuming an entire battleship increases my size by only about 0.1 cm. But by the time this trait is acquired, battles tend to involve hundreds or even thousands of ships. By the end of a battle, the increase in size is clearly noticeable.
As my body enlarges, the carapace also thickens, increasing my durability. Close combat capabilities improve as well.
Moreover, in theory, Destroyer’s Carapace has no upper limit on growth. Unless I obtain a trait like Dwarfism that restricts physical expansion, I can keep growing indefinitely.
‘Of course, that’s both an advantage and a disadvantage.’
While the trait is powerful, it’s not without its weaknesses.
If I mindlessly consume alloy materials, my body could grow uncontrollably.
Becoming excessively large increases my targetable surface area, which isn’t always ideal. Space Survival is full of devastating weapons, after all.
That’s why, from the moment I acquired this trait, I need to be mindful of how much alloy I consume. Alternatively, I could intentionally acquire Dwarfism or a similar trait to regulate my size.
‘Well, I’ve already gone through trial and error in the game, so I know what to watch out for.’
The next trait to analyze is Thermal Spine Carapace, acquired from an Elemental Hozer.
Currently, my back is lined with complex, spiny structures arranged in rows. These spines were modeled after the Elemental Hodger’s natural defenses.
Of course, they aren’t identical to the original. There are some differences.
The Amorph’s spines have a simpler structure than those of the Elemental Hodger. The original could freely control its temperature, whereas mine function solely by releasing extreme heat through internal thermal conductors.
‘It lacks temperature control, but it has another major advantage.’
Unlike the original, I can launch these spines as projectiles.
Since the spines are both large and razor-sharp, while also infused with intense heat, they possess immense lethality.
Humans hit by them will melt instantly. Ships struck by them will be riddled with holes.
‘Just what I needed an offensive option with moderate destructive power.’
Psychic Breath and Black Devourer Cannon are too powerful to use recklessly. Thermal Spine Carapace, however, is versatile and can be used without such concerns.
These are the only useful traits I acquired recently.
There was one additional trait I gained, but it wasn’t particularly valuable. That part is best examined alongside the newly updated Transcendence System.
｢Transcendence Materials List: Inorganic Digestion, Reaper’s Maw, Bone Beast, Infernal Illusions, Ultra Control (Not Acquired)｣
｢Transcendence Materials List: Demon Machine, Tyrantroid, Destroyer’s Carapace, Aether Core (Not Acquired), Hiveformer (Not Acquired)｣
｢Transcendence Materials List (New!): Dwarfism (Not Acquired), Hunger, Sensory Degeneration (Not Acquired), Slow Life (Not Acquired), Reclusive Tendency (Not Acquired)｣
The biggest change since arriving on this planet wasn’t my body it was the Unique Trait Synthesis Formulas.
Not only were my previously unlocked synthesis formulas updated, but I also unlocked entirely new ones.
‘Let’s check the synthesis formula that requires Apex traits first.’
As expected, Destroyer’s Carapace was the key the remaining materials required for synthesis were now fully revealed. The two newly identified materials were also traits that had to be obtained from Apex creatures.
‘And more importantly…’
There was another commonality among the required materials, besides their source.
They were all traits that fundamentally altered my entire body.
Demon Machine, which would restructure my body to wield the abilities of the Vortex One. Tyrantroid, which grows larger every time it sustains injuries. Destroyer’s Carapace, which expands the body whenever refined alloys are consumed.
Even ‘Aether Core’ and ‘Hiveformer' were traits that modified core biological structures and bodily composition.
Every Unique Trait I had synthesized so far was influenced by the nature of its materials. Given that, this synthesis formula would likely result in a trait that would cause a permanent transformation in my body.
‘It might resemble a fully organic lifeform.’
Since it required Apex traits as ingredients, this might become the most powerful weapon in my arsenal.
‘Of course, I won’t know for sure until I see the final result.’
The next thing to examine was the newly unlocked synthesis formula from Asuka-44.
Ironically, unlocking this formula had been purely accidental.
Among the creatures I hunted while waiting for Sechan, there was a Pyromancer.
Unfortunately, it didn't gain the trait of wrapping heat around its arms, but instead, I obtained Starvation, a trait that increases maximum energy storage but causes a constant drain on stored energy.
It was practically a trap card of a trait.
The only reason I acquired it was to prepare for a possible aerial assault from the Return Faction’s Rankers.
Among all my current traits, the one with the highest destructive power was Black Devourer Cannon.
Its effect was straightforward: it consumed 50% of my stored energy to fire an immensely powerful projectile. If I could increase my maximum energy storage, then its firepower would scale accordingly.
The risk could be mitigated using Dragon’s Heart. Though, it would mean I couldn’t spam Psychic Breath or recklessly use hyperspeed sailing like before.
My initial plan was to use Starvation in conjunction with Black Devourer Cannon. I never expected it would unlock a new synthesis formula.
But more surprising than its discovery was the nature of its required materials.
‘It demands only the worst traits.’
Aside from Starvation and Dwarfism, the other three required traits were equally flawed.
In fact, Hunger was probably the best among them. Each of these traits posed major survival issues on their own, yet the synthesis required all five.
‘I can’t follow the usual process for this one.’
If I tried to acquire and integrate each of these traits individually, my body would suffer disastrous consequences.
I needed to find a way to use them as synthesis materials without activating their effects.
‘I have to collect them in an incomplete state before synthesizing.’
The Demon Machine trait I acquired from the partially summoned Ring of Agony was incomplete, yet still usable as a synthesis material.
This formula should work the same way. I just needed to gather all the defective traits in an incomplete state and then merge them.
‘Which means I need to focus on collecting genetic samples.’
There were two main places where genetic samples were abundant.
The Outspacer Nests and Megacorp Research Facilities.
From interrogating Sechan, I had already gathered valuable intel on both.
Salman had remained holed up on this planet while commissioning Sechan for various tasks.
One of those tasks involved regularly recruiting personnel and acquiring starships.
Sechan assumed Salman needed them to secure transport vessels for interstellar trade.
However, this planet had no large-scale mining facilities, no factories, and no signs of terraforming.
‘What Salman was doing wasn’t trade.’
His ability allowed him to control wild animals. He must have been using that power to capture Asuka-44’s rare creatures and deliver them to his ally Rank 4. That would explain why he needed large ships and a sizable crew.
And pirate Sechan had the means to make it happen. With his extensive connections within Megacorp, he had been diverting ships and personnel to supply his clients.
As the transactions continued over time, Sechan eventually realized where the ships he procured were actually going. He had begun to suspect that they weren’t being used for trade.
Of course, he hadn’t known that their destination was an Outspacer Nest.
Regardless, the fact that Salman’s ships were important to Rank 4 was undeniable.
So, what was the best course of action now?
‘Right now, the Outspacer Nest is too dangerous.’
After Salman’s death, none of his allies had shown up here.
Did they simply miss the chance to make contact because I wiped out their base so quickly? That was possible.
‘But what if that’s not the reason?’
What if they had deliberately avoided coming here?
Let’s assume I had killed Salman and devoured him, just like I had with my previous enemies.
Rank 4, his fellow faction member, would have realized that the information Salman possessed had been compromised. Things like Rank 4’s abilities, the planet where he was receiving rare creatures, and other critical details.
If that were the case, what would be his next logical move?
‘Instead of attacking Asuka-44, he would try to lure me into his territory.’
With his weaknesses exposed, he’d want to turn the situation to his advantage manipulating me into walking straight into a trap.
‘By now, every part of his domain is probably fortified to the extreme.’
In the game, I had fought Rank 4 countless times. Just as I could predict his actions, he could do the same to me. He would have accounted for every possible way I might attempt to infiltrate his territory.
‘I don’t need to walk into my enemy’s trap.’
A confrontation with Rank 4 required extensive preparation. At the very least, I wanted to secure two more Unique Traits before facing him.
That meant my target here was the other option.
‘The Megacorp research facility on the colony.’
Sechan hadn’t only been doing business with Salman. One of his other clients was a research facility specializing in human enhancement within the colony.
If this facility were located in the Sol System, infiltrating it would be difficult. But since it was part of a colony, breaking in wouldn’t be much of a challenge even alone.
‘First, I’ll take care of the synthesis formula that requires incomplete traits.’
The materials might be unpopular traits, but acquiring them wouldn’t be difficult. Once I raided the colony’s research facility, I’d be able to complete the synthesis quickly.
After that, I would work on creating the Unique Trait that required Apex materials since Aether Core and Hiveformer wouldn’t be easy to obtain.
As I reviewed the changes in my status window and finalized my plans, an hour had passed.
Just then, PS-111 emerged from the ship, having finished collecting valuable data. Alongside it, Number 26 appeared, carrying a kit no larger than a small handbag.
“I have gathered all the useful data.”
｢Me too!｣
[ZZ ZZZ (You both did well.)]
“Would you like to review it now?”
[ZZ (Yeah.)]
For the next few hours, I analyzed the data PS-111 had compiled.
By the end of it, my next destination was decided.
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator – Seraph]
[Proofreader – Draxx]
Join our Discord for release updates!
https://discord.com/invite/dbdMDhzWa2
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