Became an Evolving Space Monster

In the pitch-dark expanse, a pristine white cloud loomed.

This cloud-like formation usually appeared when large numbers of metallic gremlins with silver skin gathered.

"There's a lot of them."

Judging by the cloud's size, it was at least double the number of the metallic gremlins encountered before the main body achieved semi-maturity. Back then, it was a mid-sized swarm. But these incoming ones? They were even more than that—a massive swarm.

“Looks like there are over 20,000 of them.”

There could be even more, as massive swarms are rarely small in numbers.

Unlike mid-sized swarms led by a single "Warpboy", massive swarms include a mix of higher-ranked types, such as multiple Warpboys and specialized combat variants like the "Wolfram Goblin".

With their complex makeup, these massive swarms moved in a coordinated manner, similar to army ants forming ranks as they moved. This was nothing like facing a mid-sized swarm.

The infamous space pirate horde approached, ready to devour Kesha Arma.

Behind me, massive fortress cannons began firing one by one.

Thick psychic laser beams, almost matching my psychic breath in size, slashed through the stars. The metallic gremlins scattered quickly, while the slower ones evaporated without a trace upon contact with the beams.

Unfortunately, the first shot missed its mark. As the massive fortress cannons returned to standby, hundreds of anti-aircraft guns aimed at the swarm prepared to engage.

Meanwhile, the dispersed metallic gremlins rapidly regrouped and charged toward the fortress.

Now, it was my turn.

Though the Color Bombs from the battle with Cynthia had weakened my visual system, inner fungal glands in my throat, and one combat limb, it wasn’t a serious issue.

When battling multiple foes in space, what was essential was swift maneuverability and…

"Long-range firepower."

With a touch of “Abyssal Hue” in my psychic breath, that criterion would be well-met.

Maintaining my wings at full spread and moving horizontally, I advanced toward the oncoming swarm. Simultaneously, the black carapace protecting my body began to change color.

Purples, greens, and other hues blended and swirled across the carapace’s surface like a chaotic dance of colors on a stage.

At its end were tentacles—like a mane cascading down the back of my neck and skull—illuminated in eerie, shifting hues. A foreboding, indescribable energy condensed in front of my snout, spilling from the tentacles.

The metallic gremlins, still oblivious to the looming threat, closed in. Their bodies, once as small as dust particles in the cloud, now appeared the size of pinky nails.

Tens of thousands of these monsters surged forward with grotesque maws wide open, aiming for me.

I unleashed a bubble of chaos and malice at them—tiny compared to the universe, even compared to myself, these minuscule orbs. The metallic gremlins didn’t seem to notice.

And then, the orb collided with an unlucky raider. It burst, like a glass sphere shattering, draping itself over the raider’s form.

That was the beginning.

｢■■?!｣

The psychic breath, infused with the Abyssal Hue, was a predator even more voracious than myself. Driven by an unknown force, those bubbles wouldn’t stop until every bit of organic matter nearby was consumed.

｢■■■■■!｣

｢■■■!｣

The first metallic gremlin was devoured by the breath, leaving not even a finger behind. The ravenous bubbles latched onto its comrades as well.

Panicking, they attempted to shake off the bubbles, but it was futile. Swipe at them, and they’d strip the fingers; bite down on them, and they’d invade the body, devouring organs from within.

What started as a single victim rapidly expanded to dozens, then hundreds. Soon, the bodies of those tormented by the bubbles began to glow blue.

"Ah, Warpboys."

The Warpboys intended to use their signature "Warp Guide" ability to teleport their afflicted comrades to another space. My secondary organs detected a surge of energy emanating from two Warpboys in the distance.

I immediately aimed a regular psychic breath in that direction. A massive violet flame filled the empty, weightless void.

As a warp boy was preparing for faster-than-light travel, he abruptly cancelled the warp guide and swiftly moved to the side. Thanks to his quick judgement, he was able to survive. However, another warp boy failed to evade in time and was incinerated in the dragon’s breath along with his kin.

Yet, because of his sacrifice, the metallic gremlins struck by the blast disappeared to somewhere far away, beyond my detection.

｢■■■■｣

｢■■■｣

Their formation shifted as quickly as when they avoided the fortress. This time, it resembled a net laid out to catch fish. They widened the gaps between themselves while simultaneously constructing a net that could encircle me and the fortress.

‘Large groups are indeed a nuisance like this.’

Just as the mid-sized group had a warp boy as its leader, the large group also had an entity that took command.

‘Titanboss.’

Titanboss specializes in supporting its group by continuously secreting a special substance that enhances its allies. Additionally, being capable of commanding thousands, it possesses considerable intelligence.

‘I need to find it as soon as possible.’

Cynthia, who is inside the fortress, could escape at any moment. I’ve sabotaged the silo to prevent the transport ship from launching, so she must be looking for other ways out by now.

It’s impossible to hunt down thousands of metallic gremlins one by one, and it would take far too long. The only way to deal with them is to strike at their head and disrupt their formation.

I fired an enhanced psychic breath toward the scattered gremlins. Seeing the bubble-like breath flying toward them, they quickly dispersed.

‘When their formation changes rapidly, it will reveal itself.’

Even in the game, Titanboss hides among its kin during battles to protect itself. To draw it out, I need to stir up the group like I am now.

While I searched for Titanboss, which emits micro-substances, the gremlins were preparing their counterattack. Enormous entities, over three times the size of regular metallic gremlins and with arms tainted black, stepped forward.

The name of that massive monster is Wolfram Goblin. As they raised their black arms, rock-like objects were fired from their tips. The breath I shot was intercepted by the incoming boulder and exploded.

‘...Tch.’

Wolfram Goblins are a superior species to metallic gremlins and are responsible for long-range suppression during wars. The boulders they just fired are the excrement of the gremlins after they consumed a ship.

It would be a mistake to underestimate their excrement; the rocks they shoot are extremely hard due to a special chemical reaction the metal undergoes, and they contain a multitude of microorganisms that corrode metal.

‘It doesn’t concern me, but it’s still bothersome.’

Thanks to Titanboss responding intelligently, my enhanced psychic breath was neutralized. The gremlins seemed intent on fighting in close combat, increasing their speed as they approached.

As monsters that consume ships, metallic gremlins have tough and sharp teeth. A bite from one or two wouldn’t cause much damage, but if thousands attacked, that would be a different story. If they clung to me and took a single bite, I would undoubtedly suffer significant injuries.

‘And I have to keep an eye on the fortress behind me, too.’

Currently, they have set up a siege formation targeting both me and the fortress. Those that retreated to the back also initiated combat against the fortress's defenses.

‘I’ll have to use that.’

The ability that transforms my body into a gigantic beast: ‘Bone Beast’.

It was a card I had been saving in case of unexpected situations during the assault on the fortress.

‘Now is the time to use it.’

The swarm of metallic gremlins is closing in on me.

With grotesque mouths reminiscent of an eel lacking eyes or a nose, they clung to my carapace like suction cups. They hung from my body, biting down like starving mosquitoes.

I grabbed several of the gremlins that were clinging to my back with my combat arm. As the effect of ‘Leeching Hand’ activated, their bodies shriveled up like mummies. Repeating the same action several times, the wounds on my carapace continued to increase.

Even as they watched their kin become mummies beside them, the gremlins desperately continued to bite me. They must believe that eventually, I would suffocate.

But that is a mistake.

‘Alright.’

As I absorbed a large amount of energy, I felt an unexpected fullness in my stomach. Feeling that sensation, I activated the Bone Beast transformation.

｢■?!｣

｢■■!｣

｢■!｣

If you apply pressure to the part of your body where a mosquito is sucking blood, the blood rushes out all at once, causing the mosquito to burst. I’ve never actually tried it, so I can’t visualize what that looks like, but I can somewhat grasp the concept.

That was exactly the situation with the metallic gremlins clinging to my body.

My form, which reached approximately 25 meters, began to grow rapidly. The thickness of my carapace, the length of my tail, my wings and arms, my head carapace, and my tentacles—all the elements that make up the Amorph expanded several times over.

｢■■■■!｣

Seeing me transform, the gremlins attempted to retreat. In an instant, I completed my transformation and seized the fleeing ones.

No, ‘seized’ isn’t quite the right expression. The corrosive tentacles that burst from my back merely swatted at the air as if waving a palm toward insects.

However, the destructive force generated by my tentacles, which are 3 meters thick, was truly immense. In the wake of the tentacles, only unrecognizable chunks of flesh remained.

The metallic gremlins, witnessing the horrific deaths of their kin, hurriedly fell back. Thousands of these cosmic marauders were now on high alert, fixated on me.

Of course, anyone would react like that if a 25-meter creature suddenly transformed into a colossal beast measuring 80 meters.

‘It’s been a while since I used this.’

When I fought Jason before, I surpassed 300 meters, but I’m not that large now. Back then, I combined the ‘King of Monsters’ and Bone Beast; this current state is the standard transformation of the Bone Beast.

Seeing my sudden growth, Titanboss seemed to determine that it needed to move cautiously. The other gremlins, excluding those attacking the fortress, changed their positions. The metallic gremlins maintained their distance from me, while the Wolfram Goblins stepped forward to take aim.

‘Did they think they could win by keeping their distance?’

Now that I have grown large, it would be a grave mistake to assume my breath’s power remained the same as before.

As I prepared my psychic breath, the heads of the Wolfram Goblins at the front were crushed. It wasn’t just them; the nearby gremlins began to have their heads and bodies smashed as if caught in a transparent compactor.

｢■■■!｣

｢■■■■■!｣

‘What is this?’

While the Wolfram Goblins were thrown into confusion and retreated in panic, something small flew toward me.

｢You look like you’re having a tough time; need some help?｣

The owner of the amber eyes, filled with both mischief and a warrior's spirit, sent me a thought wave.

Even though it had only been a few hours since I last saw her, I felt inexplicably happy to see her again. I responded briefly.

[ZZ ZZZ ZZZ (Does this look tough to you?)]

｢Aren't you the one who's okay? You just finished your stage-up, right?｣

Since she wasn’t wrong, I shifted the conversation.

[ZZZZ ZZZZ ZZ Z ZZ ZZZ ZZZZ (Are you sure you’re alright? You just finished your stage-up.)]

｢Don’t worry. I feel powerful enough to fly.｣

The griffon, the Mother of the Sky, said this while spreading her brilliantly flowing, agate-colored wings wide. The shimmering jewel-like light that softly swayed along her feathers reminded me of sand in the desert being blown by the wind.

That mysterious aura of her wings was proof that she had ascended to a higher level of divinity.

‘That’s a relief.’

With her by my side, there’s no way we could lose. I was slightly worried about whether she would master her newfound power, but I knew she would adapt quickly.

Tilting my massive head carapace slightly, I turned my gaze back to the metallic gremlins.

They were taken aback by the newly appeared enemy, but that didn’t mean they would retreat.

‘Good posture, but…’

A leader responsible for many lives should know when to withdraw if necessary.

Against the fools who made such a foolish judgment, the monster’s tentacles spewed flames once more.

This is the second round.