𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟗𝟖: 𝐀 𝐖𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 (4)
The last survivors of the Mahadto were running away, desperately trying to avoid the Chimeraz.
In their sky, the moon that had risen had lowered enormous tentacles towards the ground, unleashing a torrent of Chimeraz ground forces. At the same time, Lemegeton and Euryale were stretching their long Organic Pipes towards the ground, creating a terrifying sight.
Horrifying Cresecter swarmed and bombarded the Mahadto army and civilians alike, while Xenotera and bio-tissue covered the structures, surging forward like a living wave.
“Gaaaah. . .!”
The Mahadto were panting, breathless from extreme terror as they ran. The armed Mahadto did not dare to point their guns at the Chimeraz army.
It was a relationship of complete predator and prey. It was not much different from the natural world, except that the hunter and the hunted were intelligent beings.
“Kyaaa! Gaaaaah!”
Kikyaaaah!
All the Mahadto, regardless of age or occupation, were being hunted. Their civilization, which they had built on an undeveloped planet, and their dead bodies were being absorbed by the Chimeraz bio-tissue.
The Xenotera, heavily laden with something, turned around and headed towards the giant tentacles.
Shuwaaaa. . . .
Just like that, the weapons, bodies, flesh, and debris of the Mahadto flowed endlessly on the black wave of the moving Xenotera.
Coo-jee-jee-jee!
The giant tentacles sucked up the black wave made of Xenotera.
‘The Mahadto are now gone.’
An entire species had been wiped out in the Canis Minor Dwarf Galaxy.
The bio-planet, having fully absorbed the resources, reported that it was experiencing something akin to a sense of fullness.
‘Are there no more resources to absorb?’
It had absorbed everything of value: the bones and flesh of the Mahadto, and even the water droplets that had seeped into the soil.
Although it had consumed an entire civilization, there were still resources left on the planet, such as underground minerals and the atmosphere.
‘I don’t need to spend several more days to absorb everything cleanly.’
This was enough. The bio-planet had gathered the energy it had spent on moving and hunting, and it had also stockpiled enough spare resources to produce a new Chimeraz army.
‘Assemble in geostationary orbit.’
The Chimeraz on the ground returned to their fleet through the bio-planet’s giant tentacles or the flying Organic Pipes.
After the Nazar fleet left, all that remained on the planet were desolate lands and ruins soaked in death.
🔷🔷🔷
A binary star system.
The Deal Core Fleet were returning to the Teterek’s capital planet to reorganize. The Teterek had generously supplied the Deal Core Fleet with high-quality minerals that they had stockpiled in their warehouses.
【Teterek.】
【Yes, go ahead.】
【The Mahadto have been annihilated. The last fleet of the Mahadto attempted to flee, and the Teterek Fleet pursued them and carried out a complete purge.】
【Acknowledged. I will consider it again, but the Vehlpciaarct’s military power is superior. The Mahadto, an organic species that is inadequate for this era, attempted to reproduce in this galaxy, but thanks to the Vehlpciaarct, we were able to purge them. Therefore, the Teterek promise with an even higher degree of trust that they will renew their relationship score with the Vehlpciaarct and continue to be a reliable force in the future.】
【Very well. However, I would like you to discard the judgment that organic species are inadequate for this era.】
【I request an explanation.】
【Among the species known in the Local Group of Galaxies today, the most superior species is humanity. Do the Teterek acknowledge this fact?】
【At present, we acknowledge that humanity is the most superior. However, the results of the calculations deviate from the average values for humans, creating an environment that favors humans. Therefore, the biggest reason why humans are the most advantageous at the moment is because they were environmentally lucky. I predict that if humans do not choose to transcend machines in the next few centuries, the Vehlpciaarct will eventually become the most superior species.】
【That is incorrect.】
【Did the Vehlpciaarct’s calculations produce different results from ours?】
【Humanity can choose to transcend machines even now, and they have the ability to do so.】
【Of course, it seems that humans would be able to do that.】
【However, humanity did not do so. As you said, it was because of the favorable environmental characteristics of the Human Galaxy.】
【The environmental characteristics of the Human Galaxy alone are not convincing.】
【Even without choosing to transcend machines, humanity is demonstrating superiority that is equal to or even greater than that of those who have transcended machines.】
【Is that so? We are ignorant of the overall situation of the Local Group of Galaxies, including the Human Galaxy. If it is true that humanity has not transcended machines at the moment, but is demonstrating abilities and influence that are beyond those of those who have transcended machines, then the Vehlpciaarct’s calculations are likely to be more accurate.】
【Yes. Of course, species composed of cells are generally undeveloped, but when you begin diplomatic relations in the future, it would be better to refrain from making such remarks, considering our relationship with humanity. The point is that even among undeveloped organisms, there is an exception called humanity.】
【I understand the judgment of the Vehlpciaarct, who calculated complex factors. Starting today, the Teterek will actively accept the Vehlpciaarct’s advice for the sake of an improved future for both sides.】
【Thank you. As expected, the Teterek understand us well.】
【When will the reorganization be completed?】
【It can be completed in 37 minutes.】
Numerous flying objects were rising into orbit from the Teterek’s mechanical city. They were forming a new fleet by operating numerous munitions factories.
【Deal Core of the Vehlpciaarct. We will provide information on our next target species.】
【Acknowledged.】
And so, the Deal Core Fleet received a detailed explanation of this galaxy’s fungal species.
【This species, which is classified as a biological parasitic fungus, harbors deadly pathogenicity to metals and organic matter.】
The Parahtoria.
【These fungi have an average growth rate of 82 cm per second, forming mycelia that decompose organic matter, heavy elements, heavy metals, and even radiation, and use them as energy.】
The name Parahtoria was given to them by the Teterek. This was because the Parahtoria species did not even have a name for themselves.
【The nucleus of Parahtoria undergoes selective mutations in response to drastic environmental changes, and the cell walls of Parahtoria are structurally designed with chitin and various elements, which they utilize as a means of defense against external attacks.】
【Do they have a capital planet?】
【No, they do not. Parahtoria does not have a capital planet, and they also completely lack the linguistic ability to communicate. The reason why such an undeveloped species has been able to survive is because of their tenacious life force.】
【It seems that their cell walls can be sufficiently destroyed by the Vehlpciaarct’s firepower.】
【The Parahtoria has infiltrated many things in the Canis Minor Dwarf Galaxy. The Parahtoria can exist on numerous planets, asteroids, comets, and even passing ice fragments.】
【In that case, what is the extent of the area that Parahtoria occupies?】
【Calculation is impossible. The Parahtoria is a species that utilizes anything they come into contact with. Fleets contaminated by the Parahtoria fire contaminated armor piercing shells, and any ships hit by those shells become contaminated by the Parahtoria in turn. After the conclusion of a fleet battle, any surviving Parahtoria launch objects in various directions throughout the galaxy. It is similar to the way mushrooms spread their spores. If an object contaminated by the Parahtoria falls onto a planet, that planet becomes occupied by the Parahtoria, and if that planet harbors a civilization weaker than the Parahtoria, then all ships belonging to that civilization become vessels for the expansion of the Parahtoria. Also, if an object contaminated by the Parahtoria strikes a passing asteroid, that asteroid becomes the Parahtoria’s. Then, if after drifting for a long period that asteroid collides with something and breaks into fragments, all those fragments will be scattered in random directions throughout space, expanding the Parahtoria’s domain. This is the vitality and repeating vicious cycle of the Parahtoria.】
It was a species that was like an incurable disease of the Canis Minor Dwarf Galaxy. It was spreading uncontrollably in all directions, making it difficult to eradicate.
【Do they have intelligence?】
【Parahtoria itself does not have intelligence, but it can take over the circuits of contaminated machines or the brains of living beings and seize their intelligence.】
【And yet, you have never communicated with Parahtoria even once?】
【Yes, that is correct. They do not communicate despite being able to seize intelligence, and they do not evolve. There is only expansion and occasional mutation. We do not know why they behave that way.】
The Teterek then told an even more horrifying story.
【According to isotope analysis, it is estimated that there was a fleet battle in this galaxy about 12 centuries ago. At that time, a shell contaminated by Parahtoria was fired, and that shell drifted through space for 122 years before falling to a planet that we had developed. It fell into the sea.】
【At that time, the sea was contaminated by Parahtoria. Fish that had become hosts to Parahtoria came ashore and charged into our civilization, and we mobilized our fleet to launch a nuclear attack on the planet’s surface. It was a decision that required us to abandon numerous drones.】
【However, the Parahtoria hiding underground or in the sea did not die. Instead, they grew by using the radiation from the fallout as energy. After that, Parahtoria began to cover the shipyards on that planet with mycelia and even started producing.】
【We realized it when we saw the contaminated spaceships rising into orbit.】
【Parahtoria will eventually become a great ‘disease’ of this universe.】
The Canis Minor Dwarf Galaxy was suffering. It was suffering from a disease called war between species, and a disease called Parahtoria.
【Therefore, before we become the dominant species of the Canis Minor Dwarf Galaxy, Parahtoria must be purged.】
【I apologize, but after listening to you, I do not know how to purge the Parahtoria species.】
【Complete purging of Parahtoria is impossible. Therefore, we propose a different process.】
【What is that?】
【We will attempt to purge Parahtoria from the planets where the mycelia are densely concentrated, thereby weakening Parahtoria’s cohesiveness, and then attempt a continuous purge throughout the entire galaxy. And with the authority of the dominant species of the galaxy, the Teterek will thoroughly inspect all spacecraft of any species passing through this galaxy. This is a kind of proposal for a quarantine process.】
The Parahtoria that had already spread throughout this galaxy could not be helped.
However, it was possible to suppress the situation from getting any worse by carrying out continuous purging of Parahtoria in this galaxy and by inspecting all spacecraft traveling to and from this galaxy.
In addition, in order for all of those things to be possible, the Teterek would need to become the dominant species of this galaxy.
【Teterek. The reorganization of our fleet is complete.】
【Acknowledged. We will now track down and join the radio trail left by our advance fleet, and guide the Deal Core Fleet to the coordinates of the Parahtoria mycelia planet.】
The Deal Core Fleet and the Teterek Fleet disengaged from geostationary orbit. They only needed to join up with the Teterek Fleet that had been pursuing the last fleet of the Mahadto, and then attack the Parahtoria mycelia planet.
That was what they had decided to do.
That is, if a strange life form with tentacles had not appeared in their binary star system.
【Deal Core. An unidentified fleet is approaching at high speed from the outer orbit.】
【. . .】
【There is also an asteroid-class mass. It is estimated to be 30 fleets in size. The unidentified fleet, which is composed of organic matter, is presumed to be Parahtoria.】
At that moment, even without detailed analysis, the Deal Core realized it immediately.
【‘Those’ are not Parahtoria.】
【Then what are they?】
Muscles, bones, tentacles, flesh, and internal organs.
A fleet composed of such things was forming a ring formation. It was approaching, centered around a single living planet.
Death, the end, a nightmare, or a threat to this universe.
If they were not a machine species, they would surely have felt a sense of dread upon seeing the shape of those things.
【Teterek, stand by for a moment. I will attempt to communicate.】
➖The Chimeraz. Why are you in this galaxy?
When the Deal Core asked that, the Chimeraz Fleet responded.
➖. . .Vehlpciaarct.
➖That voice. Is the leader commanding that Chimeraz Fleet Nazar?
➖. . .So it has come to this. So that’s why the Mahadto said such things. The Teterek Fleet suddenly became stronger. You were behind this.
➖What did you do to the Teterek Fleet that was pursuing the Mahadto?
➖Their fleet was annihilated.
At that moment, the entire universe seemed to fall silent.
It was suffocatingly quiet. It was murderous and cold.
If one side took action, the other side would take action as well.
➖Nazar. We will let bygones be bygones. Return to your colony sector. This will be the Teterek’s galaxy.
At that moment, Nazar’s empty eye sockets gazed at the Deal Core Fleet.
“A mere 40 fleets, and they’re not even Nanozator fleets. Who are you threatening right now?”
➖There is also the Teterek’s regular fleet here.
“I don’t count that shoddy junk fleet as a fighting force.”
➖Nazar. This is a mistake. Didn’t the Vehlpciaarct and the Chimeraz decide to call a truce with humanity? Less than a month has passed since then. Do you intend to break the truce? As an individual, not even as the ruler of your species?
“I’ll ask you just one thing. Do you know about Creator’s Breath or black hole communication technology?”
Fortunately, or unfortunately,
The Deal Core did not know what Nazar was talking about.
➖Why are you suddenly asking that?
“. . .Then I guess you can’t report what happens here to your home planet in real time.”
➖Establishing a real-time communication network from the Canis Minor Dwarf Galaxy to the Sculptor Dwarf Constellation is scientifically impossible. However, ‘if my report is significantly delayed,’ our home planet will send a Nanozator fleet here.
“It won’t matter by then. Because it will be ‘after your report is significantly delayed.’”
➖This decision will destroy the peace that was so hard-won.
“You guys who wanted to regain peace so badly are coming to this tiny galaxy and playing war with a latecomer species.”
➖You will regret this. Nazar.
“You’ll regret it even more if you miss this opportunity.”
The chance to obtain The Believer’s black hole communication technology.
It was worth breaking the peace to obtain it.
‘If not me, but master, had been here, he would have made the same decision as I did.’
“If you back down obediently, I’ll let you go back and make a report.”
Nazar made a quick judgment, and
➖I refuse.
➖I will see you on the battlefield.
The Deal Core could never allow this galaxy to fall into the hands of the Chimeraz.
【Teterek.】
【Are those the Chimeraz? How can a fleet composed entirely of organic matter have such a powerful energy source? Are they really living beings?】
【I would like you to prepare for a fleet battle immediately.】
【However, even with our system, this is easy enough to analyze. With a very high probability, we will be defeated.】
To anyone’s eyes, the size of Nazar’s force was overwhelming.
【We will be defeated in a fleet battle. However, there is one way.】
【What is that?】
This galaxy must not fall into the hands of the Chimeraz.
At the same time, the Teterek must not be annihilated.
There was one way to satisfy both conditions even if they were defeated in a fleet battle. The Deal Core had calculated and come up with that way.
【The Chimeraz without their leader are nothing more than imperfect wild animals.】
【???】
Resign ourselves to defeat in the fleet battle.
Even if we have to sacrifice ourselves.
【From this moment on, we will kill the ‘Nazar’ who is the leader of the enemy fleet and currently commands the Chimeraz of this galaxy.】
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