Chapter 196. The Broken Egg (1)
A massive tremor rippled through the area.
Sensing that something was terribly wrong, the group fled in a hurry until they reached the enormous cylinder that could be called the heart of the base.
For some reason, the cylinder was completely covered in red sparks.
And in that state, it was slowly sinking deeper beneath the base.
“That’s Alpha’s main body!”
Yukgap shouted in alarm as he noticed something was wrong.
Victoria quickly looked over the changes happening around them and made a guess.
“It looks like she’s trying to merge with No. 12.”
A violent wave of red sparks immediately swept through the area.
At the same time, all kinds of flesh and tissue began oozing through the walls.
The dark red mass crackled with sparks as it expanded at an astonishing rate.
“No. 12’s tissue is suddenly expanding!”
No. 8, who had sensed what was happening throughout the base using his abilities, hurriedly warned them.
“It seems to be trying to swallow everything in the area!”
No. 7 immediately took the lead.
“Everyone, this way!”
Even as they moved, the flesh spilling through gaps in the walls rapidly covered more and more of the surroundings.
At this rate, the entire interior of the base would soon be swallowed.
“Ugh!”
No. 7, who had been leading the way, suddenly groaned and dropped to one knee.
Yukgap immediately rushed to check on her.
“What’s wrong?”
No. 7 struggled to speak between ragged breaths.
“Alpha is calling me.”
“What?”
Yukgap frowned, unable to understand what she meant.
Then No. 8 suddenly stared into empty space.
In a dazed voice, he asked,
“Can’t you hear it?”
“What are you talking abou...”
Yukgap stopped.
He could hear it.
Like weeping.
Like lamenting.
Like pleading.
Alpha’s call was echoing throughout the entire base.
Yukgap muttered in confusion,
“I can hear her.”
“She’s calling us.”
“Come to me.”
“Let’s become one...”
For an Archon, Alpha’s commands were absolute.
Perhaps that was why.
Her call echoing through the base possessed a powerful pull that seemed to drag at both body and mind.
“Yukgap, snap out of it!”
Victoria shouted when she saw him begin to waver.
At this rate, he would be pulled into it too.
“Damn it!”
Realizing how serious the situation was, No. 7 gritted her teeth.
Then she manifested her Archon form.
Her body grew larger.
Her muscles and bones shifted.
Black fur burst across her skin.
Her skull reshaped itself, revealing sharp fangs.
Long predatory claws gleamed from both hands.
Now in the form of a black jaguar, No. 7 raised her claws and spoke to Yukgap.
“Listen carefully.”
“I’ll make an opening for as long as I can.”
“You need to get outside!”
“Come with us!”
“I can’t leave alone!”
Yukgap shouted desperately.
No. 7 gave him a bitter smile.
“That’s impossible.”
“We can’t resist Alpha’s call.”
“You know that.”
Even as she spoke, her body was trembling faintly.
She was clearly resisting Alpha’s summons with everything she had.
Creating this tiny opening for Yukgap was the only act of rebellion she was capable of.
“Please take this.”
“This is the kimchi we brought for you.”
“If you eat it, you should be able to resist Alpha’s call.”
No. 8 hurriedly held out the kimchi they had brought earlier.
Yukgap stared at the two of them in bewilderment.
“Why are you helping me?”
They were Archons.
Weapons created to obey Alpha’s orders absolutely.
So why were they going this far for him?
No. 8 hesitated for a moment.
Then he answered lightly,
“I don’t really know.”
“But people outside say something like this.”
He added quietly,
“Because we’re friends.”
With that, No. 8 drew his overtechnology weapon, the Noise Gun.
He aimed it at the advancing mass of flesh and unleashed a powerful ultrasonic blast.
“EEEEEEEEEE!”
The amplified sound became a massive vibration that tore straight through the approaching flesh, carving out a wide path.
No. 8 pointed toward it and shouted,
“Go!”
“I can’t resist Alpha’s call much longer!”
“I’m almost at my limit!”
“But...!”
Yukgap trailed off, unable to bring himself to leave them behind.
No. 7 snapped at him.
“You idiot!”
“You have somewhere to go back to!”
“You can live according to your own will instead of doing whatever Alpha wants!”
“So go!”
Even while shouting, No. 7 swung her claws and sliced apart the flesh surging toward them.
This was probably the greatest kindness they could offer.
Yukgap understood that better than anyone.
He quietly apologized.
“I’m sorry.”
Then he scooped Victoria into his arms.
And he gave them the last words he could.
“And thank you.”
With that, Yukgap activated his acceleration.
Carrying Victoria in his arms, he vanished from their sight in an instant.
No. 8 stared at Yukgap’s fading afterimage.
“Won’t you regret this?”
