Chapter 253 – Tanis – Salvation
The bodies of aliens are buried in the flesh wrapped around the warp device. Everyone is naked, and their lower bodies are cut off.
“Is that alive?”
Unlike the remains rolling around on the floor, there was no decomposition at all. Even though it has a terrible appearance, it looks like it is alive as it stares at us and opens its mouth.
Although it is unknown whether the spirit contained within it is that of an intelligent person or an infectious agent.
We aimed our guns but couldn’t shoot. If you try to explode an eye, the warp device could be damaged.
Alpha, holding a flamethrower, asked for permission from me, but Solaver dissuaded me.
“It is a very sturdy device, but it has been neglected for too long. “Now you have to treat it like a baby.”
When I shook my head, Alpha put the flamethrower on his back and switched to a rifle.
There were a ton of skulls and ribs piled up around the control panel of the warp device.
Clutter.
A thick tentacle raises its head from beneath the pile of bones.
As the tentacles rose, the skulls cracked open and rained down, like the miracle of Moses.
The guns we aim at also move along with it.
The tentacle headed towards the warp device. Then the upper bodies attached to the lump of flesh screamed and twisted their bodies.
That expression and that movement seem to be screaming, ‘Please don’t come close to me!’
The tentacles headed towards one of them.
The main base of the walkers we have dealt with countless times since coming to Tanis, the Sornen tribe.
Even though she had a female body, it was impressive that she was 2 meters tall and had well-toned muscles like a CrossFit athlete due to the characteristics of the Sornen race.
I hate to admit it, but it even resembles a human, making it feel like an upward compatibility with Homo sapiens.
Sting.
Like a ventriloquist inserting his hand into a doll, tentacles burrowed into the female body from the waist.
The scene is closer to a masquerade enthusiast choosing and wearing a mask of his choice.
The female body, which was noisily turning her head and blinking her eyes in response to the movement of the tentacles, suddenly looked straight at us. And open your blue lips.
-Key… Key.
There was no distortion in the voice, like a cloudy feeling or boiling phlegm.
The pitch was arbitrary, but it was a clear female voice.
Subtitles appear on the visor.
-Do you… Have the key…?
“Oh my God, my God.”
Solaver was speechless at the cruel sight.
“Key, what key are you talking about?”
Only after asking back did I realize that he probably wouldn’t understand Earth’s language.
“Young Master?”
“This is the worst interpretation of my life.”
Even though he grumbled, he interpreted my question.
But it doesn’t seem like it has any intention of communicating. He just said what he wanted to say.
-The key… I couldn’t find it.
-The door… Won’t open.
Whoosh.
Another tentacle rose up, tearing apart bones from the floor nearby.
-The key… There is no one.
Soon, bones everywhere began to shake. As if there were a lot of anacondas hiding under the bones.
-Do you have the key…?
A tentacle came towards me.
When the tip of the tentacle split into four parts, the disgusting insides were revealed. Suction-like teeth protruded like hooks, and several sea anemone-like stems were floating in the center.
They are drooling disgusting saliva as if they are looking at my brain and trying to get their appetite back.
Bang!
I fired without any further thought.
“Kyaaaaa-!
The tip of the tentacle burst into pieces, while the female body that was hitting the key screamed.
Clap!
The tentacles came out of the female body that was acting as a doll, and the body was thrown to the ground.
The three eyes that had just looked at us with only interest were now filled with intense hatred.
Coo!
Suddenly, a large rock fell from the sky. It was about 20 meters away from us.
In the distance, beyond the edge of this bone floor, huge tentacles like the legs of a kraken appeared.
Kwaang!
As it hit the ground menacingly, hundreds of bone fragments flew into the sky.
Soon another huge tentacle appears and strikes the floor. This time it wasn’t a random swing. We aimed precisely at the place where Tango was.
Kwaaaaang!
As Tango, who had prepared in advance, throws his body to avoid it, numerous bone fragments likewise fly into the sky.
Only then were we able to properly see the bare floor that had been hidden by the bones.
No matter where you look, it’s bright red. The blood stains that had dried a long time ago had already painted the entire floor.
How much blood has been shed here?
Eventually, a fleshy monster the size of a house appeared at the end of the auditorium.
If you turn a tree that has lived for hundreds of thousands of years upside down and have all the evil spirits of hell possess its roots, this is what it would look like.
In the center, there is a huge open hole reminiscent of a starfish’s mouth.
“Kyaaaaa!!!”
A loud roar, something I had never heard in my life, came out of his mouth.
It contained the power that seemed to push even the divine protection and thunder that had been hiding us until now into a corner.
If you look at the lumps of flesh shaking below, you can’t even guess what its true size is.
“Are you coming? “I met you once.”
In the face of a roar that threatened to blow even my soul from my body, I burned up my will to fight.
“If I finish you off here and go back with the vaccine, I’ll be able to sleep soundly for the rest of my life. It really feels like I finished everything with my own hands.”
“No! “You can’t beat that!”
Solaver grabbed my arm.
“Now is the time for Plan B! Hurry and run away!”
He even took off his camouflage cloak and tried to wrap it around me.
But he shook it off and unpacked the backpack he was carrying on his back.
“You can’t believe it?”
“Hey, aren’t we lucky that the researchers here provided plenty of samples?”
Vaccine ampoules revealed with the sound of pressure being released. I took out half of them.
“Do you know how effective it will be? “Maybe it’s the type that takes effect over a long period of time?”
“Is there any other way? “I’m just trying everything I can!”
The quick-witted robots heard our conversation, approached to an appropriate distance, and quickly took the ampoule.
“It’s so pretty it’s killing me.”
They look like warriors who climbed up from hell, but everything they do is so special that you want to kiss them.
We split up and got as far away from the warp device as possible. It would be inconvenient if I got caught in its attack and got destroyed.
“It is impossible to defeat that gigantic monster with just our ammunition. We need to throw the vaccine from the ampoule into him! The method is left to each person’s discretion!”
[Roger!]
All the robots repeated.
Buuuuung!
At the same time, a huge blast sounded, and two giant tentacles fell towards Alpha.
I was able to avoid one, but I couldn’t completely avoid the second one that flew in due to the time difference.
Kwaang!
It barely escaped the blow, minimizing the impact, but it flew dozens of meters and fell apart.
Looking at him getting up right away, it looks like he avoided serious injury, but his whole body is covered in scratches.
The rest of us charged. In order to insert this ampoule effectively, it has to stick somehow.
Of course, that monster didn’t just sit there and watch.
The huge maw in the center protruded outward, like a clam flipping its insides out. A dark green liquid sprayed from the spout.
Even at a glance, it looks like you should never touch it!
The problem is that it is not fired as a stream of water, but in the form of a surface like a spray gun.
The target of the liquid was Tango, but no matter how much of a stalker he was, it was impossible to avoid the spray covering a wide area.
[Emergency avoidance.]
Tango made the best choice in the situation. It burrowed into the bottom like a flounder and instantly piled up the remains on top of itself.
Cheeeeek!!!
Numerous remains on the floor touch the light green liquid and instantly melt.
We didn’t have time to check if Tango was alive or dead. This is because huge tentacles struck like lightning.
There were only two aimed at me, and I don’t know how many rained down on the other guys.
The good news among the bad luck is that the monster doesn’t seem to want to destroy the warp device.
Even while the bloody attacks were coming, the warp device was clearly being avoided.
-Give me the key…
Another body attached to the warp device is shouting at us.
A long black stem extends below the waist, probably due to the touch of a new puppeteer.
“Come and get it!”
I answered while dodging another giant tentacle.
[New pattern! It’s dangerous!]
Charlie warned.
The mouth at the center of the giant monster opens wide. The ugly teeth and internal mucous membranes were shaking convulsively.
And a tremendous suction force sucked us into it. Countless bone fragments and various debris are dragged by the guy.
For a moment, I thought about throwing the ampoule into his mouth, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it.
This is because I wasn’t sure whether it would fit properly into the guy’s mouth or whether it would break at the same time.
If we just left it to the wind and threw it away, the vaccine could have been wasted. It seems that other robots thought the same thing.
While everyone was struggling to hold on by leaning on cover or holding on to something, Tango was helplessly dragged in.
This is because its body was half melted. It was not an acidic liquid that could be completely blocked by a hastily covered bone.
The suction stopped at the end with the sight of Tango being swallowed by a huge mouth.
At the same time, numerous infectious agents emerged from the source where the monster was rooted.
“Keeeeek-!”
“Krrrr!”
Even if you catch a small number, you can easily exceed a hundred.
“I’m going to turn around, damn it.”
Even if you achieve one shot, one kill, you won’t have enough ammo.
And that moment. Tango’s final report came in over the wireless.
[Mission completed.]
“Kiyaaaaa!!!”
The giant monster goes on a rampage, screaming as if it will tear itself apart. It is a scream of pain no matter who hears it.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Tentacles attack everywhere indiscriminately. Since it was a struggle blinded by pain, most of it did not come towards us and only destroyed the surroundings of the monster.
Kujik!
Numerous infectious agents running towards us were caught up in it and turned into minced meat.
Ta-ta-tang!
The few infected that survived and ran towards us were wiped out with our fire.
Meanwhile, a change occurred in the giant monster. Black discolored veins began to pop out all over the skin.
“The vaccine works!”
A strong ember of hope that had been extinguished burned again.
Like domino-like cracks in the ice of a winter lake under the weight of more than its limit, black veins spread countlessly.
Then, a lump of black blood, like a grape, appeared.
Without any further thought, he put a bullet there.
When the explosive shell exploded, black liquid poured out. Thicker and blacker blood vessels spread from the affected area.
“Ha, I know what it is.”
Self-proliferating and active infectious agent destruction enzyme!
It didn’t get that name for nothing. It seems that the small vaccine was rapidly multiplying in the monster’s body and causing trouble.
In order to survive, the monster also collected body fluids and tissues contaminated with the vaccine and isolated them like grapes in one spot.
If you destroy it, the toxin that was barely contained spreads throughout the body again.
Black veins began to spread widely around the grape that had just been popped.
[Charging.]
When I dodged the giant tentacles that were hitting at random, Echo, who was at the front, ran forward.
He kills the incoming infected entities, and as the distance between him and the monster narrows, he takes out the last grenade.
There was a white cable tie wrapped around the grenade, and even if you didn’t look at it, you could tell there was a vaccine ampoule tied inside it.
Even while the monster was writhing in pain, it did not leave Echo alone as he approached right in front of him.
He flipped over the central maw and prepared to spit out the dark green corrosive liquid again.
However, Echo was faster in throwing grenades.
A grenade flies with the potential to set a new MLB record in one fell swoop.
It hit the side of the snout and went cleanly inside.
Kwaaang!
“Kiaaaaa!!!”
Perhaps it had exploded just before vomiting out the corrosive liquid, and the dark green liquid flowed out helplessly, as if vomiting.
The black veins spread wider on the monster’s surface, and three grapes formed.
Immediately, bullets flew there.
The barely contained lump bursts and the vaccine penetrates deeper into the person’s body.
Black veins cover the monster’s entire body.
More than 10 new grapes have formed, and less than half of the giant tentacles are moving anymore.
“Shoot! Shoot generously! “Blow it all up!”
Ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta!
All ammunition was poured out. Alpha, who had already used up all his ammunition, was at the forefront blocking the approaching infected entities with a flamethrower.
The walkers turned into fireballs do a fire dance and collapse on the spot.
Chick!
When the flamethrower fuel finally ran out, he rushed in with a dagger.
I also ran out of explosives. Shrapnel and incendiary bombs were fired at the black lumps.
Alpha cuts off the heads of two walkers and rolls in one piece with the Reaper who rushed in from behind.
“Krrrr-!”
Reaper, who was in the mount position, hit Alpha hard on the chin.
Alpha tried to resist, but due to injuries suffered in the battle in the forest, his output was not coming out properly.
Sparks fly brightly as the Ripper’s hand strikes his neck.
Bang!
Reaper’s head exploded, and he collapsed due to Charlie’s supporting fire.
Alpha stood up staggeringly, and sparks continued to fly from his neck, and it seemed difficult to stand.
At that moment, the giant monster that had been screaming like crazy became quiet.
Like a drunk person, he raises his snout to the sky and slurps back and forth. All the giant tentacles have turned black, lost their strength, and are falling to the ground.
“Queeeeek-!!!”
Black liquid started pouring out of her mouth. The monster’s massive body, which was coughing up blood with the force of a waterfall, falls back helplessly.
Kuuuuung!!!
It disappeared beyond the auditorium with an earth-shaking sound.
“The only chance to escape is now! Welcome!”
Solaver ran to the control panel near the warp device.
“Everyone gathers!”
Robots came running at my command.
Alpha had a hard time running on his own, so he ran like a duo with Charlie’s support.
“No, fuck.”
I ran to the warp device and aimed my gun while swearing.
Even though the giant monster was defeated, the chunk of flesh and three eyes attached to the warp device still remained, staring at us.
Aside from being unpleasant to look at, the warp device cannot rotate as it is because of the flesh.
I suppressed my desire to shower shrapnel and lowered the gun.
“Tear it off!”
[Roger!]
Charlie and Echo charged in with both arms, holding military swords in each hand.
I handed over the dagger that was my share of responsibility for guarding against Alpha, who could no longer fight.
The four daggers swung with the help of the enormous strength of the artificial muscles cut off chunks of flesh and cut out eyeballs in an instant.
“Keeeeek!”
Meanwhile, infectious agents can be seen running from afar.
[Administrator, there is a problem.]
“What?”
When I stopped guard and turned around, the piece of meat had already been dismantled, and three severed eyeballs were rolling around on the floor.
[The infection has seeped into the inside of the machine.]
“What?”
I hurriedly ran and observed the warp device, and it was indeed so.
Eyeballs as small as thumbnails and as large as apples were filled in the gaps of the metal structure that rose in the shape of a horseshoe.
“The seal has been broken!”
Solaver shouted.
“But the machine isn’t listening! Even though I set the coordinates to Earth, I keep canceling the command myself!”
I once again saw the eyeballs embedded in the device.
Is it a type of infection that fuses with machines like the Infector we met on Earth?
At that moment, a large eyeball that was slowly rolling in the wind and rain met me.
Grinning.
Now that even the giant monster has been defeated, the hatred in his gaze has disappeared. Instead, a feeling of ridicule came to mind.
‘You can’t go.’
As if it contained that one word.
Whoa!
When I suddenly kicked the eyeball, it burst like a soft-boiled egg and rolled to the other side.
Blah!
Poop!
Quick-witted Charlie and Echo immediately gave the eyeballs a goalkeeper long kick.
Guuuuung.
And the warp device started working.
The vibrations gradually became stronger and shook the few remaining bone fragments around.
“Give me the ampoule!”
At my command, I handed over the vaccine ampoules that Alpha and Charlie had.
“Damn it!”
However, there was no way to effectively spread this to the guys who were digging into every crevice of the machine.
It was like trying to catch dozens of mosquitoes hiding in the server computer by spraying them a few times. However, in a hurry, I broke the ampoule and sprayed it into the gap.
The circular ring began to rotate slowly, and its speed quickly increased.
Just like I experienced once, plasma is shooting out from the outside of the ring.
“What? “It works properly, right?”
“No! It didn’t work out! Look here!”
My shouts of joy were interrupted by Solaver.
On the control panel screen, a window was opened to input the coordinates of the destination.
Solaver entered the address of the warp device in the spacecraft that landed on Earth several times. But it was deleted right away.
“An infection seeped into the device! That thing keeps canceling the coordinates!”
Fortunately, despite the misfortune, the only thing the infectious agent interfered with was inputting coordinates, and could not prevent the operation of the device itself.
Plasma gathers at the center of the ring, which rotates at tremendous speed, and a sphere begins to form.
“Then what should I do?”
Ta-ta-tang!
Echo and Charlie poured out their last remaining ammunition at the infected entities rushing from all over.
However, more than the fallen infected entities appear in buildings, on the horizon, and on rooftops.
Rumbling!
With a loud noise, a red sphere the size of a soccer ball was created in the warp device.
“Wait! Looks like the vaccine is listening! The period of time that the infectious agent interferes with coordinate input is getting longer!”
Keying.
The ring, which was rotating at an incredible speed, slowed down and a white sphere was created that only gave off clear light.
It is the starting point of warp!
However, the coordinates to Earth are still not being input properly.
When Solaver entered a destination on the panel, the eyeball infection canceled it.
“What the fuck!”
As I approached the warp device, the mushy eyeballs were spewing out black bodily fluid.
However, it seems that more time is needed for the vaccine to be effective even on the innermost ones.
The problem is that the infectious agents won’t wait for that.
“Keeeeek!”
Tatang!
Slam!
[I’m out of bullets.]
After finishing the last shot, Echo threw away his gun and held a military bayonet in both hands.
[5 bullets remaining.]
Charlie also didn’t have much time left.
“You go in first!”
Solaver shouted!
“I will continuously re-enter the coordinates while the warp is in progress!”
Solaver pointed to the infected eyeball trembling inside the warp device.
“Then we’ll be able to return to Earth even if that damn thing gets in our way!”
The operation of the warp device cannot be performed by robots. Only Nana Solaver, a member of the Space Federation, can do it.
“What about you?!”
“I will send you away first, and then I will follow you! You never know, as the vaccine continues to work hard, right? There might not be any disturbance by the time I get in!”
Ta-ta-tang!
[I’m out of bullets.]
After finishing the final shot, Charlie also pulled out his military sword and aimed it at the infected entities running in the distance.
“I have no choice now! Hurry up! “This is the only way!”
Solaver looked at me with a determined face.
“Launching! My true friend! You have undertaken the greatest journey and saved everyone from the void!”
The white sphere inside the warp device gently waves.
The light reflected from it illuminated Solaver’s face. Tears were flowing from the corners of his eyes as he smiled warmly.
“Thank you so much for saving my soul!”
“…”
Even though I knew that every second was important, I couldn’t take my steps.
And that moment.
[I will take good care of my life.]
My voice played in my ear. This was something I jokingly said to Echo before leaving Earth.
“What?”
The moment I turned around in surprise, something threw my body into the sphere of the warp device.
[Mission completed.]
What caught my eye as I flew away was the sight of Echo briefly saluting and charging at the mutant infected entity with a military sword.
Beyond that, Charlie was already struggling, surrounded by three walkers.
Solaver was manipulating the panel brilliantly and re-entering the coordinates to Earth that kept being cancelled.
Alpha throws his tattered body at the walker charging at Solaver, and it falls into one piece.
Shuwoouk.
A blinding white light surrounds my whole body…
The constraints of gravity have disappeared.
