Chapter 79
「We’re seriously walking?」
「Please bear with it, Father. The mere presence of a beastkin like myself already puts us in a grey area.」
「That’s right, that’s right. Last time, those two cyborgs were targeted when they went alone. It’s better to keep a low profile.」
Teo, Kana and I trek through the forest of pale green, luminescent crystal trees. It’s been a day since the tragic Apollyon ban incident on May 20th. First thing in the morning, I logged into ‘HAO’ and found myself walking on grey earth once more. No, it used to be grey. Unlike Ver1.08, leaf shards from the crystal trees now litter the ground, reflecting rainbow hues under the light of the twin suns.
They developed resistance, according to Teo. The boots we wear to tread the earth were provided by Nakamoto. Rugged in appearance with interchangeable soles, they incorporate components from the crystal trees.
Remember the first damaged Apollyon we obtained, with its melted armor-like appearance? That was due to the epidermal nutrient absorption mechanism introduced by ‘UYK’ in Ver1.06. While the effects are minimal over the span of a day, leaving it for a month gradually dissolves it via the acidic particles emitted from the ‘UYK’ body surface masquerading as earth. The melted material is absorbed for nutrients while the rest is discarded, melted, onto the ground. That’s how the process works.
「Resistance refers to that. The crystal trees have apparently evolved to develop acid resistance to avoid being absorbed by ‘UYK’.」
「There was talk about the Strains and ‘UYK’ learning and adapting, right? I wouldn’t be surprised if they possess enzymes capable of breaking these down.」
「Do you know how the Machine Beasts and crystal trees came to be, Father?」
「Didn’t they just spawn automatically?」
「That is certainly one method. But surely you’re aware of a simpler explanation. Do you recall the swarms of Machine Beasts descending from atop the Ark?」
Ah, I see, it finally clicks. In other words, these crystal trees, like the ones that rained down from the Ark, originate from Strains. That’s why they continuously evolve their bodies at the same rate as ‘UYK’, huh?
I knew Strains could assimilate tools, but plants? Apparently, some Strains absorbed plant factories. Makes sense, I think to myself as I gaze up at the crystal tree leaves. Indeed, instead of flat leaves, wrinkled, slightly curved ones sprout from the branches. This must be a variety once known as lettuce. Did it propagate after escaping the Strains’ grasp? When I ask if it’s edible, Teo says herbivorous Machine Beasts can consume it.
There are crystal trees but no crystal grass. It’s to minimize surface contact, Teo explains as we navigate the crystal forest. I listen with about 60% comprehension. We’re entirely on foot with minimal gear. All metal components have been stripped and replaced with cloth and plastic wherever possible. Metal gloves have been swapped for fabric, with only the handgun and mask retaining a metallic sheen.
「Isn’t being practically unarmed dangerous?」
「How many times do I have to tell you? Even Machine Beasts don’t work for free. They won’t go out of their way to attack us if we’re not worth the effort. Well, unless we’re secretly carrying metal parts.」
「Could it be that you’re wary of the ‘Brigade’, Father?」
「The ‘Brigade’?」
「Ah, it’s what we call those who’ve distanced themselves from the ‘Reformists’ and Kōmitsu Solutions after various incidents. But it’s laughable to think the ringleaders, who sell us water and bring in Machine Beast parts, would attack me. Besides, we have Kana. She can handle around 30 people if needed.」
「That much is well within my capabilities.」
A chilling conversation, I shudder. Apparently, the ‘Brigade’ has repaired malfunctioning oxygen plants and purification systems to establish their own stronghold. This allows them a degree of self-sufficiency, but they still peddle Machine Beast parts to make up for shortages.
Compared to Ver1.06, organizations have formed, and people can roam the earth relatively freely. Humans are truly remarkable creatures, I muse. As if to interrupt my trivial musings, Kana grabs my shoulder and pushes me down, urging, 「Stay low!」 Suddenly, something both familiar and unfamiliar appears. Thin, metallic tentacles.
The tentacles shoot out from between the scales of the earth like bullets. They soar to a height likely exceeding 100 meters before quietly retreating back into the ground. The cacophony of metal tearing subsides, but instead of returning to tranquility, screeching noises reminiscent of nails on a chalkboard encircle us.
The screams of Machine Beasts.
「This is ‘UYK’s hunt. It pierces the Machine Beasts with tentacles, weakens them with venom, and dissolves their bodies with acidic particles to gain sustenance. That’s why it uses tentacles, likely modeled after jellyfish. If it were based on octopuses, they would be called arms.」
「Incidentally, while the venom targets the metallic bio-circuits of Machine Beasts, it contains harmful metals that would kill us too. So be careful.」
「I mean, getting hit by those tentacles would be fatal anyway… Wait, you noticed the tentacles before they emerged. How?」
「Vibrations. If you feel a faint tremor underfoot, immediately lower your stance. As long as you’re away from the gaps between the scales where the tentacles emerge, remain still, and possess minimal metal resources, you’re unlikely to be targeted.」
Seeing the tentacles recede, I nervously turn toward the direction of the screams. An evolved form of the Spiral Canabun we encountered before, perhaps? With cannon-like structures on its back, insectoid carapace, and tentacles characteristic of Machine Beasts, it lies impaled and overturned. Occasionally twitching, its joints twist in unnatural directions.
「Gruesome…」
「Well then, shall we rest and prepare for nightfall after observing two more hunts?」
「There are multiple hunts per day?!」
What an awful stage. Delete the instadeath gimmick already.
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