Chapter 361: Episode 18

This is dangerous. Kill the worm at the critical moment.

Successfully triggered a viral outbreak using the cyst bullet. It is an undefended armor, an opponent that can be hit by a bullet, an attack that can absolutely kill in an instant. No matter how unreasonable the enemy's ability is.

In front of the giant cactus worm, I was enveloped by a strange pleasure. A sense of accomplishment, a sense of satisfaction... I cannot express it well. I do not know why I have this feeling. I have defeated countless enemies in my life, but I have never had a feeling like this.

But there is no time to think about why. The enemy in front of me has been defeated, but this is still the enemy's base. It is best to rendezvous with the previous unit as soon as possible.

When the worm's body was covered in metal crystals, I turned off the Almeiza Machine. You can turn the command to activate the suppression program on and off within the range of the radio waves emitted by the main body. Otherwise, the bug will erupt and the cactus will bloom. If it becomes a battery that continuously fires cyst bullets, the nearby Gragg Mcmiyah will be in danger.

Although the bug is still alive, its whole body is wrapped in metal, and it cannot move. For the time being, it can be said that the enemy has been neutralized.

There is no way, I have to remove the worm eggs parasitic in the eyeball. Quinn is not difficult. Digging them out is enough.

There will be some pain, but it is no big deal if it is not during 'Thought Calculation'. It is unbearable because it also accelerates the sense of pain. Because of this, the thought of taking the best action is also accelerated, so I can only move as if ignoring the pain.

There is a 5-hour grace period before the eggs hatch, but it is hard to say that the time is certain. As long as there is an overlap of uncertainty, it should be dealt with as soon as possible.

The problem is how to deal with the parasitic eggs on the main body, but in fact, I have already taken measures. The sub-dragon will lay eggs on those who see them. So I predicted that if I saw the worm through Quinn's eyes, it would also infect the main body. The measures I prepared for the possibility paid off.

This is an application of "Mental Coordination". The information captured by Quinn's sensory organs was mediated by the eggs possessed by the main body. Usually, this information exchange is networked between Quinn, the numerous eggs, and the main body to increase the speed of information processing, but this time, the information transmission path between Quinn and the eggs changed and unified.

Because of this, I cannot use "Thought Calculation", the processing speed has slowed down, and I cannot make decisions calmly, but the spread of the infection has been suppressed. In other words, the eggs act as a breakwater to protect the main body. The infected eggs can be crystallized and discharged later.

The thread stuck to Quinn's left leg can be dealt with by taking off the pants. Its adhesive force is very strong; if it sticks to bare skin, it will be torn off along with the skin. I am keenly aware of the greatness of clothing.

After that, it is just running away. However, when I came here, I realized that there was another big problem.

Gragg Mcmiyah is motionless. No, I cannot move. In his view, the enemy's appearance suddenly changed before his eyes, which is an incomprehensible situation. The enemy has stopped moving, but they cannot let their guard down because they do not know what they are doing.

Considering this, I also partially created this situation. The poisonous smoke spat out by those bugs made the surroundings like a smoke screen. Taking advantage of the poor visibility, I was able to hit the 【Erosion Machine Bullet】 without being noticed by Gragg Mcmiyah, but I cannot think of what to do next.

The contract with Gragg Mcmiyah's ability is troublesome. Running away in front of the enemy is not allowed. For the time being, it seems possible to reset and retreat when the enemy loses their fighting spirit without killing them, but I should tell them how I neutralized the enemy.

To do this, I need to show my ability. The influence of the Almeiza Machine will be seen as a threat to humanity. Even if I did not reveal everything, just crystallizing that worm in an instant is enough to be unbelievable.

First of all, can we say that the worm has lost its fighting spirit? It is not surprising that ordinary creatures are in a state of panic, but I cannot be sure. The only way to find out is to move Gragg Mcmiyah.

If he is in a state of low morale, he will not violate the covenant, but if he does not, he will lose all his Nen Ability. The probability of a mere incompetent human living on the Dark Continent is extremely low. Even if I survive in this place, there is no future.

Because he understands this himself, no matter if the enemy is dead or alive, no matter if they are willing to fight, he will not run away. This is a very troublesome promise.

My match with Gragg Mcmiyah was easy, but he is definitely strong. The pole he embodies will take any attack. Using an eight-meter-long pole like a spear to keep the enemy at bay.

The trouble is that the trajectory of the long spear does not shake at all. Although it is a light plastic pole, even if it is hit, the impact will be ineffective and cannot be deflected. There is also a large gap between them, so if you are an opponent who can only fight in close quarters, you will not be able to get it. Perhaps because of his oath, his fighting style of rushing forward like a raging wave leaves the enemy with no room to fight back.

This may be the power of the heavy oath, but now it is counterproductive. Despite being in a situation where escape is certain, his actions are restricted. Even if I revealed the details of the Almeiza Machine, this is something I cannot control.

Then is it better to walk away without saying anything?

The first thing to consider is one's own safety. No matter what happens, the result will not change, so there is no point in standing here with Gragg Mcmiyah. No matter how he looks at my escape, there is no reason to blame him.

I did not expect such a situation to arise, but I should have realized the danger when I went to retrieve it. A few days ago, I did not expect everyone in the expedition team to survive. I thought someone would die as a matter of course.

Even so, I thought death was a small seasoning in my adventure. A brief introduction to dramatic development. The cycle of beginning and ending. I was sure that the ending was waiting for me after that.

If I were in the past, I would not hesitate here. He would have left Gragg Mcmiyah long ago and would be running away. So why am I still here now?

If you want to run away, that is fine. That is one answer. Or should I explain everything and ask Gragg Mcmiyah to quit? Or should I pull him away without saying a word?

With these options, I cannot think of any answer. I do not know how to handle it correctly.

"You... how are you here!"

However, the words Gragg Mcmiyah said there were different from what I expected. These words were not directed at me.

When I arrived there, I finally realized. I am in someone's "En". From its unique Aura quality, you can immediately guess what it is.

"Captain Catlai!"

Catlai, who should have been in the lead, appeared here inexplicably.

"I wanted to go first..."

"Let's run! The enemy has been defeated by Mr. Quinn!"

Apparently, Catlai saw my attack. More accurately, he must have sensed an En. If it is an En, it is not impossible to detect even in this smoke screen. Perhaps because I was distracted, I realized this too late.

The question of whether the enemy has the will to fight can also be judged by whether there is a Catlai who has the ability to sense Malice. The fact that he proposed to retreat to Gragg Mcmiyah proves that the enemy has no will to fight.

Gragg Mcmiyah can move freely now. We were finally able to leave the sub-dragon.

I wanted to run in the forest. Catlai has already seen the ability of the Almeiza Machine. Although I had to explain the situation, it would definitely be seen as a threat. At the same time, it was exposed that it was hidden.

This is also something I had prepared before returning. It can be said that my means of attack are concentrated on the Almeiza Machine. Even so, if possible, I still want to hide it.

However, on the other hand, he did not have any resentment towards Catlai for exposing his ability. On the contrary, I even think it helped me.

I cannot decide. He prepared an answer for me, who could do nothing. This time it was good for me, but what should I do if a similar situation occurs again?

In many cases, a momentary judgment will determine Fate. It will be too late to think about it then. Do not delay making decisions.

I will fight side by side with them, what will I protect, and what will I leave behind?

If you think you can win, then fight; if you think you will lose, then run away. This is as good as not thinking about it. We must decide on a policy as the basis for judging this war situation.

Various thoughts come and go, becoming complicated.

"Captain... oh, I have something to tell you."

While thinking, I was pulled back. The voice was small, like a monologue, but it could be heard clearly in the silent woods.

"I will stay here."

"... The enemy is coming?"

Catlai did not know what to say, but Gragg Mcmiyah seemed to read the other side of his words. If the enemy is approaching, say it honestly. Catlai's behavior is a bit wrong.

"Consider running away first, I am the last one."

"I will stay here!"

Catlai's body is trembling. Because of the mask, I do not know his expression, but his voice is mixed with sobbing. Despite the obvious reaction of a frightened person, he stubbornly refuses to give up his opinion.

He felt the enemy's Malice. And there are multiple reactions. All of them seem to point to Cher and others. Perhaps this worm has the ability to detect the fragments of the Gravity Stone possessed by Cher, even from a long distance. So, as soon as I took out the Stone, the enemy might have already determined my location.

He must have wanted to convey his explanation concisely, but he spoke too fast, mixed with sobbing, making it difficult to understand, and it took a long time to understand everything.

"I understand."

"There are dozens of enemy reactions!"

"Better than handing it over to you!"

Gragg Mcmiyah grabbed Carter's collar. Fists flew.

Carter was hitting Gragg Mcmiyah.

"……I am going to release the Quantum! I will not follow anyone's orders!"

Setting these aside, I had no choice but to send Carter away, and Carter fled as if to double back the way he came.

Gragg Mcmiyah stood up and glanced into the depths of the forest, but did not follow Carter.

"Let's go, Quinn."

The body followed the prepared "answer," making the ears feel good. We began to run toward the forest exit. Without needing to think much, it was just "right."

Carter was wrong. Of course, sometimes you prioritize your mission, even if it means sacrificing yourself. But what he did was nothing more than a suicidal act. What is the point of defying a superior's orders and launching a special attack in the middle of an irresistible enemy formation?

This was an action that was no longer the purpose of the mission. Regardless of his intentions, objectively speaking, this was clearly an inappropriate decision.

But why—

"Quinn?"

——Do I feel his actions were "correct"?

"Don't stop……!"

When I was caught in the sub-dragon line and switched from fleeing to confrontation, Gragg Mcmiyah was the first to react. Considering the mission, I cannot say it was appropriate. Why did you do that?

Having witnessed the power of the Almeiza Machine with their own eyes, they knew this ability was also effective against worms. Gragg Mcmiyah, Carter, and Quinn. Of these three, they must have realized who had the strongest combat power.

But they didn't ask me anything. They didn't seek help.

Why.

The answers are probably countless. I didn't realize it, but there were many things in the process that led to this. Even so, I still cannot clearly grasp the shape.

I wonder if this is why I wanted to leave the Dark Continent. My goal was not just to survive and go to a safe place.

"Go to Carter"

There was a Certainty. Perhaps, once in a lifetime, he stood at the most conspicuous moment. Perhaps even an idiot like me could understand its nature. I knew it was dangerous, but I still couldn't suppress my curiosity. I wanted to know the meaning of what he was going to do.

Gragg Mcmiyah said not to go. Quinn is not a member of the Quantum. There is no need to go and help Carter.

If you think rationally from Quinn's perspective, that is correct. However, humans are creatures that pursue rationality but completely disobey it.

Of course, Quinn is not Quantum. Therefore, there is no obligation to respond to the commander's words. I decided to act according to my own will.

＊＊＊

Some people are not good at anything they do. Studying, sports, and work. When it comes to not trying, that's just how it is. Even if you are pessimistic, no one will help you, and most people live while accepting their own abilities.

If I had to say, he was disastrous at making such a Compromise. Without knowing his own abilities, he challenged the Gaimushara many times, disappointing those around him. He thought with his head about what was wrong, yet he made the same mistakes again.

However, no matter how untalented a person is, if he or she continues to work hard, he/she will grow into someone as excellent as others. Whether it is studying, exercising, or working, he was not a person inferior to others.

But, it is not evaluated. There was something about him that made people feel uncomfortable. The horse didn't fit, the warp didn't fit. Just talking about it makes me annoyed. Even his family avoided him. He didn't show it on his face or in his words, but he knew he was causing trouble.

I can understand people's Malice toward me. He only knew Malice, not affection or friendship. At least the world in his eyes was full of Malice.

Throughout his childhood, student days, and working career, he was never able to build good interpersonal relationships. I had no way to make friends, and I would be bullied every day. No matter how hard you try, you will never be recognized. Even so, even if you make a mistake, you will be scolded as if you were your parents' enemy.

He changed jobs. Without knowing anything about the future, a turning point that completely changed his life came.

That day he was at a convenience store. I had finally finished the overtime work imposed on me and came to buy dinner late at night. There were no other customers in the store.

A big man came in. He was wearing a mask on his head and holding a pistol in his hand. It was clear he was a thief. Of course, this was not an opponent he could deal with. For a moment, I made eye contact with the threatened clerk, but all I could do was shake my head.

Just as the robber who was grabbing money was about to leave the shop, a customer entered the shop at an inopportune time. He was a middle-aged man wearing something like a kimono, and you could tell he had been exercising. However, he was no match for the armed robber.

Shouting while holding a gun, the robber suddenly spun in place like a figure skater, then fainted and rolled over. Ignoring the stunned him and the clerk, the disciplined man walked around the store as if nothing had happened, bought a few bottles of cheap sake and snacks, and left.

He didn't understand what had happened, but he knew this man was not alone. He had defeated the robber with some unimaginable skill. He ran out of the store and followed the man. I asked him to tell me what he had done.

I didn't even know why he would do that. However, from that day on, his life changed decisively. He decided to follow that man and learn.

That man was a substitute teacher for Xinyuan Long. He was a famous warrior in that lineage, but he was also known for his quirks. Even among his disciples, the talented masterpieces, only he had a different color.

"You have no fighting spirit."

As someone who yearned for martial arts, he did not have the correct heart. The essence of bu is to harm others. It is a combination of the innate instincts of living beings and the human reasoning that regulates them. He did not have that quality. Whether as a warrior or as a Nen user, this was a fatal flaw.

"You are just a 'normal' person."

However, in human society, it is a quality that does not require living like a normal person. On the contrary, it is a quality that humans selectively Eliminate in building society, far away from the wild. In other words, he was a normal person, just like most people who say this.

"But why can't it be broken?"

The mental Training was harsh. Training in preparation for death continued almost every day. The master never relaxed, and he didn't want to either. He knew that for someone without talent like him, half-hearted Training was not enough, not enough to obtain a small amount of Nen waves.

A few days of Training were unbearable for a decent human spirit. However, for him, it was still a comfortable environment.

Both his teacher and disciples understood his constitution. The kind of aura he exuded made others disgusted. It was like an innate defect, not entirely his fault.

He thought the world didn't need his existence. I was able to make a Discovery of the mistake.

However, even after hellish Training, his cowardice could not be cured, and the teacher eventually gave up. After completing the "half" Xinyuan Long, he was kicked out of the dojo.

Returning to the rootless grass, he could do whatever he wanted. In the past, it was impossible to imagine an ideal. He had a dream, and that was to become a substitute instructor for Xinyuan Long.

A Shihan-dai is someone qualified to instruct students. Being recognized by the founder of the Shingen-ryu, the current master Isaac Netero, is proof that he is allowed to inherit the essence. To obtain it, not only ability is needed, but also the ability to correctly guide disciples. He didn't even complete the course correctly, so he was not qualified to become one.

However, one day. I want to become someone who can instruct someone.

His encounter with martial arts changed his previously worthless life. At that time, the teacher who picked him up from the depths of the darkness was a hero to him. If someone looked down on me, I would want to tell them. If you lift your head slightly, an unexpected world will unfold before you.

He intended to join the army and head to the Dark Continent. There, he also found precious partners.

He also lost many friends. Without realizing it, he looked down again.

It was a girl who taught me that I couldn't keep my head down forever. The girl I met in the Dark Continent was so talented that I couldn't even compare myself to her. However, he greedily sought knowledge and skills, and said he wanted to be his apprentice.

I knew those words weren't true. I suddenly noticed. A forgotten dream, vivid in my heart. I cannot die here, I finally remembered the obvious.

As soon as I looked up, my friends were there. The Captain, Cher, De, Quinn. Don't lose anyone else. I realized that no one was missing here.

So when the Dragon chased Quinn, and when Gragg Mcmiyah was trapped, he also stayed where he was. This was not a thought-out action. I did it naturally.

Since then, I have been fully focused on my actions, and I don't even remember what I said. Before I knew it, I had used all my strength to blow Gragg Mcmiyah away. In fact, this was the first time I had seriously hit someone. It also contained anger toward Gragg Mcmiyah, who tried to sacrifice himself without permission, but I also tried to do the same thing, so I cannot say anything about others.

Trying to be a decoy to let his friends Escape. The message he passed to Gragg Mcmiyah was not fake. There were reactions from dozens of enemies. He reached there.

There was a huge Red Crystal there. The remains of the worms that died due to Quinn's attack were left behind. It was indeed dead. But "inside," he felt a twisted Malice.

Like a pupa hatching, it appeared. The Crystal cracked. Two Pair of wings flew out from a large crack.

He perceived it within an En. A butterfly or a moth. The larva (worm) survives by undergoing Transmutation into an adult. No, this was not a metamorphosis of a life. It was proliferation. A large number of butterflies were about to take off.

Can we stop all of this? No matter how well-prepared he was, I have to say no. His body trembled with fear, his breathing was irregular, and the blood had already drained from his head. Calling himself a decoy was presumptuous. I couldn't even move a Finger, just standing there. The only thing that kept him going was the will to protect his comrades.

What are you doing here? I cannot move, as if my body has disappeared.

A gust of Wind swept past his stiffened self. No, this was not Wind.

"【Sacrificial Cradle (Rotonegg)】"

Light filled the space, as if it had penetrated from outside the tightly sealed Wall. He saw his own blood behind his eyelids. There was a red, pulsing life beat.

A huge flash burned your vision. My eardrums burst first, but the roar passed through my bones and shook my brain.

The light faded, and a forest with better visibility appeared. Under the shadows of those trees, there remained one, two... five butterflies that I had not killed. I thought I had caught them within the range of the light, but how did they Escape? The reason soon became clear.

Tubes extended from the bodies of the butterflies in all directions, and poisonous smoke gushed out from there with tremendous force. It generated propulsion like a jet engine and flew by making full use of sudden acceleration and sudden braking. There was no elegance like a butterfly.

There were eyeballs on its wings, just like the Dragon. After all, it also had parasitic abilities, and one could be infected just by looking at it. Because of this, I had to restrict the 'Mind Sync' network and could not use 'Thought Calculation'.

Due to the use of the Sacrificial Cradle, the stock of Rotonegg was also reduced by half. It was also used in a terrible situation, mental concentration was abnormal, and more eggs were lost than usual. Because of this, the power also increased, and perhaps it could defeat many enemies.

The butterflies came out of the worms I drove away. Perhaps it was more like the children of the worms rather than transformed worms. Would it escape the explosive symptoms because it was an independent organism?

I don't know if 【Erosion Mechanical Bullet】 can be used, but first of all, its movement speed is fast, and it is difficult to aim at the butterflies flying in zigzags. More troublesome is that it scattered a poisonous smoke screen, blocking the line of sight.

And the biggest problem is the "Pressure" emitted by the enemy. Ever since I was a worm, I have been using intimidation with hallucinogenic effects, but since I turned into a butterfly, this effect has been further strengthened.

I feel Heavy. I don't think this is an illusion. It is difficult to move, as if gravity has increased. It only took five of them to have such a great effect; if I hadn't wiped them out with the "Sacrificial Cradle," I don't know what would have happened.

Besides that, the enemy seems to have some powerful means of attack. It came out of the shell by crushing that red metal. Although it is more fragile than the body armor reinforced by Aura, it is not an easily breakable Material that I can crush myself.

This is not an easy opponent to defeat. While thinking about how to fight, the butterflies that finished spraying the smoke screen began to disappear one by one.

It is not Hidden. They are running away. Considering the attack I just launched, that movement is not strange. My worries vanished.

It doesn't matter if you just run away. However, the direction is consistent with the direction of Cher and the others. According to Gragg Mcmiyah, worms have the ability to sense Cher's return fragments from a distance. Do not go there.

When I tried to chase him, Gragg Mcmiyah stopped me. His hand was on Quinn's head.

"——"

He seemed to be saying something, but Quinn could not hear his voice because his ears were damaged. Leaving behind a few short sentences, he slowly walked forward.

An aura gushed out from his body. Something was completely discordant, a terrible distortion. The presence of a turbid aura spread like vomit, like pollution.

Is he really Gragg Mcmiyah? I cannot think of anyone else. The quantity and quality of the aura were simply too much for one person.

Its Aura is disgusting. Like a moth to a torch, it attracts all the Malice.