NOVEL WEB Chapter 195
Cryptid Colony.
Down in the deepest part of the cave, a horde of cryptids densely packed in a room scurry about.
A baby cryptid leaps off someone’s back, soaring through the air, dodging the walls formed by the cryptids, and attacks the queen mid-air.
Flashes of light continuously sparkle, and bullets rain down onto the uncovered skin not armored by carapace.
The queen gets hit by countless bullets and topples over.
Then, a change occurs within the ranks of the cryptid horde.
– Krurk!?
– Keeh!
Thrown into confusion and soon turning hostile toward one another, the cryptids reveal enmity.
“Seoli!”
“Yes! Everyone, stop fighting!”
Seoli’s voice echoes throughout the colony, and the horde of cryptids, which seemed ready to charge at each other, calms down.
“Sit down!”
“Get up!”
“Hands up!”
– Kyaa?
“Come on, hands up!”
Following Seoli’s commands enthusiastically, despite failing to fully understand her, the cryptids respond.
After confirming that the cryptids are listening to her, Seoli whips around and dashes toward me.
“Yes! All done, Small Mom!”
“Great, good work, Seoli.”
I reach out and pat her head.
“Hehehe.”
In Seoli’s joyful expression, as she receives my touch, I see cute little animals like puppies or kittens overlap.
Although her appearance may be mature, inside her is the small and cute Seoli I know well.
“So, since we’re done here, shall we go outside?”
“Yes!!”
Seoli and I step out from the colony.
The cryptids follow close behind our group.
The first swarm we lured here merges with the group from the colony, forming a significant horde.
“Edu, did you have a safe trip?”
“Was greeted by Jason.”
“Did everything go smoothly?”
“Everything’s fine, so what’s next?”
“Hmm…”
I look at the cryptids following Seoli’s words.
Initially, the goal was to verify Seoli’s words and abilities, but leaving behind this large group unattended—or destroying them entirely—seems a waste.
Maybe we should take this chance to raise a group of cryptids with Seoli?
“Since just leaving them here is wasteful, let’s bring them aboard the Jason’s arsenal for now. They might be useful later.”
“Understood, but can the arsenal hold them all?”
Nisia asks.
Upon reflection, it might be a bit cramped, so I turn to Seoli.
“Seoli, can you fit them all on the ship?”
“Yes!!”
Without a moment of hesitation, Seoli nods.
“Alright? Can you help with that?”
With another energetic nod, Seoli walks toward the cryptid group.
While watching her, I call Mili.
[Sister, did you need me?]
“Yes. Mili, can you open the arsenal?”
[Yes, Sister.]
With a loud creak, the steel plates covering the arsenal split apart, slowly lowering to the floor and forming a ramp.
“Come on!!”
At Seoli’s call, the herd rushes through the arsenal doors.
Unlike previous experiences where they attacked, the sight of cryptids boarding the vessel under command was new and intriguing.
With her hands on her hips, Seoli loudly commands the multitude of cryptids.
“Don’t touch anything! Stay still!”
– Krurk?
– Kya?
“Respond!”
– Keeeeeng…
At Seoli’s sharp command, the cryptids shiver and let out weak cries.
Interpreting this as compliance, Seoli nods and points to a corner.
“Now everybody, sit down!”
– Kyaarlk?
“Quickly!”
Prompted by Seoli’s urging, a nearby Biter slowly approaches the arsenal corner, hesitates, then crouches down.
“Yes! All of you do the same!”
The junior cryptids fill the spots beside the first one.
With that, Seoli gives a satisfied nod.
“Now everyone climb on top and sit!”
– Kiiiiek? Kiiik-
The cryptids react to the continuous instructions.
But Seoli remained resolute:
“Quickly!”
– Keeeeng…
A weak cry issues forth in obedience to the queen’s absolute command.
Cryptids pile one on top of another, forming layers upon layers of still figures, waiting quietly.
“Wow-”
– Keeeeng…
Although a few cryptids make pitiful sounds, Seoli, the one who caused this arrangement, casually scans the group before running over to me, showing no particular interest.
I had the feeling before, but now seeing this, it seems Seoli doesn’t perceive cryptids as members of the same species.
“Mom! All done!”
“Good job.”
I pat her, and a happy smile blooms on Seoli’s face.
“Since we’ve finished verifying, let’s proceed to our destination?”
“We’re heading to check for the sleep entity, right?”
“That’s right. Let’s return to the command bridge.”
“Yeah, Seoli, will you come with us?”
“Yes!!”
An abandoned city, devoid of any signs of life.
Factories once full of countless workers and robots operating day and night now rust and crumble. Roads, once bustling with vehicles of all sizes, are now vast graves that turn brown alongside the city.
Yet another ancient relic that met the same, unremarkable fate as countless other cities in this world.
– Krurrr….
The center of the city, almost like a graveyard, filled with towering skyscrapers, sees a creature combining bird wings with insect-like carapace twisting its neck around.
A grade 5 flight-type cryptid, the Diver.
With eyes full of caution, its head scanning around, the creature suddenly freezes, staring intently at something.
An object approaching from the distance in the sky.
Having identified its nature, the Diver ascends into the air and flies to a factory district covered with towering smokestacks.
Time passes, and breaking the oppressive silence, a white spacecraft appears in the sky above the city. Jason steers toward the industrial zone located on the outskirts of the densely packed urban area.
“Edward, Jason, seeing anything?”
“Nope, nothing.”
[Nothing detected by my sensors either.]
“Hmm…”
Even though nesting away from their territory, they seem rather casual.
However, as long as the sleep entity is here, being relaxed is out of the question.
“We still have to be cautious though. This could be a trap. Jason, keep the lower barriers boosted, and Edward, continue monitoring the surroundings.”
[Understood, Commander Edu. Barrier output adjustment.]
“Alright.”
Jason continues moving forward.
The distant silhouette of the factory complex comes into view, and Edward turns his head in our direction.
“Edu, enemy spotted!”
“Summon mecha, Colossus! Armed with firepower modules!”
A 6-meter giant emerges on Jason’s deck.
Simultaneously, a horde of cryptids hiding from the factory area crawls out.
– Kyaah!
– Keeeh!!
Sharp cries.
Glancing quickly at the enemy on the screens, there’s no sign of the sleep entity.
What appears are common grade 4 and 5 cryptid entities.
The peculiar aspect was the composition of the enemies—all capable of long-range attacks, showing a clear sign of wariness against aerial assaults from above.
‘Could this group be related to the one I attacked last time?’
Queen Hwa with a modern gamer’s mindset.
Moreover, with Red Queen Ryong nearby, it’s unlikely a nameless cryptid could replicate the Red Queen’s work. Their extreme vigilance against the sky matches the damage they suffered during the last encounter.
Still, it feels too early to confirm that alone.
So, I clear my thoughts and give the first command.
“Jason, retreat!”
[Turning away.]
Jason quickly turns the ship around.
Behind us, the cryptid horde closely follows.
– Kyaahh!
– Sssshh!
The cries of the monsters grow louder as they draw nearer.
I confirm through the screens that the enemies have left the factory area and quickly issue commands.
“Colossus! Attack the enemies who’ve crossed over to the city side while minimizing damage to the factory. Fire at will!”
Simultaneous with the command, flames erupt from the 6-meter giant.
Missiles soar into the air, blasting apart the leading ranks of the cryptid horde. Two 30mm machine guns unleash fire, mowing down the group.
Boooom!
A large explosion occurs at the center of the charging cryptid horde.
The sniper cannon’s projectile pierces through a centipede clinging to a building.
– Kyaah!
– Sssshh!
Without slowing down, the enemy continues the chase.
Using Jason’s agility and Colossus’ firepower, I keep retreating, striking down the enemies.
– …
Realizing this tactic won’t work, the enemies spread out to surround us.
At that moment, a large butterfly-like lower-ranking cryptid commander lingering at the back of the group hesitates, then the movements of the cryptid horde abruptly stop.
The pheromone-scented butterfly looks behind, then slightly ascends as if receiving some sort of signal, before heading back toward the factory.
The vicious horde chasing us, following the butterfly’s signal, disperses in all directions and retreats.
“Huh?”
“Really?”
An unexpected move by the enemy.
Instead of leisurely searching for the reason, we focus on the current situation.
“Edward, keep an eye on the enemy movements.”
“Alright, give me a second.”
Edward fiddles with the radar equipment.
After a brief pause, Edward looks at me.
“Edu, it looks like they’ve completely retreated.”
“Completely?”
“Yeah, they seem to have hidden underground or in caves. There’s not a trace of any movement on the radar.”
“Hmm?”
The writhing mass of cryptids disappeared so quickly, which wouldn’t be possible without preparedness regardless of their collective consciousness.
After a moment’s thought, I clear my head.
“Hmm… Jason, can you check too?”
[Understood, Commander Edu. Deploying reconnaissance drones.]
Drone footage appears on the screen.
However, not a single cryptid can be seen in the live footage.
The factory area, previously filled with enemies, now returns to an eerie calm almost like it was mistaken for a delusion.
“Strange. Jason, can you raise altitude and go back toward the factory?”
[Understood, Commander Edu. Adjusting altitude.]
Jason slowly ascends into the higher skies, and the city and factory grow smaller.
Even smaller, yet the factory area remains in clear sight.
“Summon Little Drones.”
Small drones appear outside the command bridge. Not stopping there, I summon a whole swarm repeating the same action.
“Hey guys, can you thoroughly check the area below?”
The little drones respond with a slight shake, dispersing in all directions toward the factory.
Soon, their surveillance footage is transmitted via hologram.
“Hmm…”
Factories with only skeletal frames left and industrial equipment that are worn out yet maintain their original shapes.
Still, as I follow the traces left behind by the cryptids, the reason how they could hide so effectively is revealed.
It’s the caves.
Artificially dug tunnels masked by the remnants of vehicles and pieces of collapsed buildings are scattered across the entire factory area.
Having found how they hid, another peculiar point comes to light.
‘They blocked the entrances?’
Mounds of dirt heavily piled up at the entrances of every cave.
Apparently prepared beforehand for such a maneuver, when the little drones tried to penetrate, only the top layer of dirt was moved without much progress.
“Jason, could you lower altitude?”
[Understood, Commander Edu. Decreasing altitude.]
The factory area quickly draws closer.
Once we reach a suitable height, I issue the command.
“Colossus, replenish weapons! Attack those caves!”
Arms refill within the empty slots, and the 6-meter giant leaps off the deck of Jason.
With a resonating boom upon landing, the black knight points all weapons at the caves and unleashes a barrage.
Kwaaannnghh! Perroooong!
The thundering explosions and tremors from the ground shake the outskirts of the factory.
Dark smoke and dust scatter in all directions.
As time passes, the dust and smoke gradually dissipate.
But despite the fierce bombardment, the dirt-packed cave entrances remain largely unaffected, only slightly hollowed out.
An apparent intention to solidly barricade the entrances.
“Hmm, I see.”
“Sister? Did you figure something out?”
“Yes, I think I understand why they blocked the entrances.”
The strongest power here must be the sleep entity, but they have yet to show even a glimpse.
The forces stationed outside a stronghold are typically composed of units of low importance, bluntly speaking, units whose losses would not be a major concern.
So, why would they seal up the entrances thoroughly just because their disposable external forces took some damage?
That’s going too far, it’s a foolish act.
But the enemy indeed carried out this foolish act, and they did it quickly as if prepared in advance.
Meaning, there must be a reason compelling them to take such a foolish measure.
While I couldn’t determine the exact reason, there is one thing I can be sure of.
“Reason for blocking the entrance… what do you think?”
“The creatures… are they trying to avoid battle?”
“Cryptids avoiding battle?”
Sita’s wide-eyed surprise at my unexpected answer.
I understand her reaction.
Aversion to combat is the least cryptid-like behavior possible.
But precisely because of this, what was once mere speculation solidifies into conviction.
‘Indeed, it’s that strange queen.’
An enemy with the mind of a modern gamer.
If that were our opponent, it makes sense for the cryptids to behave this way.
Last time, they lost their aerial forces entirely and suffered significant damage to the brain entity.
So, it’s likely they were told not to act rashly in case anything happens and instead wait for reinforcements or hide.
But knowing the enemy’s intent, I have no intention of playing along.
Hehe, what’s your next trick?
“Still, Sister, what do you have in mind? With them sealing the entrances even preparedly, won’t they be hard to drive out?”
“No worries, I have a good idea. Seoli!”
“Yes! Mommy!”
Seoli, who had been clinging to Nisia, lets go and rushes over to me with a big shout.
As I tousle her hair smiling, I make the proposal.
“Seoli, should we play some mud with Mommy?”
“Mud play?”
“Yes, fun mud play.”