Chapter 101. Subjugation
The Mechanical Hydra.
A monster with multiple mechanical snake-like heads.
The number of heads varied depending on the individual.
The Mechanical Hydra that existed in ancient times had three heads, while the newly born one had seven.
And…
“So you’re saying that one of the new Mechanical Hydra’s heads is almost at your level?”
─[That’s correct. Bbyong.]
Each of its heads was at SS-class level.
In other words, there were seven SS-class monsters gathered together.
─[If we let it continue growing, it will become even more dangerous than the Mechanical Hydra of the past. Bbyong bbyong.]
A creature that was one and yet not one.
It seemed that the dangerous monster the Cyborg Dolphin had mentioned was indeed the Mechanical Hydra.
【Mysticism】 ─Seven SS-class monsters! 😱😱
【Bubble Bubble】 ─Wait a minute. Then the Mechanical Hydra that existed before was like having three SSS-class monsters?
【Pururu】 ─Crazy. No wonder it beat Solorb.
【Yumi】 ─What exactly is the Crocodile Merchant? How did they manage to subjugate such a monster…?
【Pururu】 ─For real, how did the Croc manage to take that thing down?
【Mysticism】 ─The Croc was said to be SSS-class too! 😛
【Rise Nova】 ─Wandering Merchant > Mechanical Hydra x3 > Solorb.
【Rise Nova】 ─The Crocodile sure turned out to be more impressive than I thought.
“The Wandering Merchant must’ve subjugated it with the help of an explorer, right? The Merchant doesn’t weaken even when near the explorer.”
【Pururu】 ─Ah.
【Yumi】 ─Aha.
【Rise Nova】 ─So there was such a method.
“Anyway.”
I shifted my gaze back to the Iris screen.
Then I asked Omega.
“Omega. So, once the taming is done, you’re planning to go subjugate that thing, right? Are you sure you can win?”
─[I’m not certain. I might lose. Bbyong.]
As expected.
They were talking about going into a fight with an uncertain outcome.
‘…I don’t want to lose them as soon as I tame them.’
To survive in this labyrinth.
I tried to avoid uncertain battles as much as possible.
Normally, after taming Omega, I would’ve asked them not to fight the Mechanical Hydra.
But that wasn’t an option.
If we didn’t deal with the Hydra now.
It would pose an even greater danger in the future.
Considering not just the present but also the future, we had to prevent the birth of a monster made up of seven SSS-class beings.
‘I have no choice but to help.’
I glanced over the exploration team.
There were five SS-class members.
Kinogine Arachne.
Blood Jellyfish Princess.
Necro Puppet Master.
Puppet, Jellyfish Queen.
Bastet Daong.
With Omega added, that made six.
‘The Mechanical Hydra has seven heads…’
I called Niara, who was buried in my arm.
“Niara.”
─[You should call me Mom, son.]
“Shut up and head to the Machine Factory right now.”
【Pururu】 ─Patricide Kang Geon. ㄷㄷ
【Yumi】 ─That’s not patricide.
【Mysticism】 ─Right, she’s not his real mom; she’s just claiming to be. 😠
I also spoke to the Puppet Master.
To summon Niara Nepensis to that place.
As I mentioned before, the Puppet Master could always summon their puppets nearby.
─[Mom doesn’t want to be apart from her son…]
“I’ll let you cuddle with me when you come back, so don’t complain and go.”
─[Really? You promise, son?]
【Pururu】 ─Disgusting as always.
【Mysticism】 ─I want to cuddle too! 😡
【Yumi】 ─?
【Bubble Bubble】 ─She’s his mom, so I’ll let it slide. Phew.
【Rise Nova】 ─She’s not his birth mother though.
With that, Niara joined the exploration team.
Now there were seven SS-class monsters.
The same number as the Mechanical Hydra’s heads.
“Omega. Do you think we can win if our exploration team helps you?”
─[With their help, the odds of winning…]
Omega briefly scanned the exploration team.
Then, with eyes gleaming on her expressionless face, she said.
─[Not just a chance of winning—this much power guarantees victory. Bbyong bbyong!]
Even though it was a mechanical voice, it was filled with excitement.
“Guaranteed victory? You’re sure this time?”
─[I’m sure. With the two strongest members of our village joining us, there’s no way we can lose. Bbyong bbyong.]
As Omega finished speaking.
She lightly tapped the ground twice with her thick reptilian tail.
At that signal,
─[You called for us, Master.]
─[We’ve answered your call, Master.]
Two mechanical-type monsters appeared.
【Yumi】 ─Whoa! They appeared so suddenly.
【Bubble Bubble】 ─So fast.
【Mysticism】 ─😮
【Pururu】 ─Master, lol.
The two strongest forces from the Machine Factory.
Their danger level was also SS-class.
—
■Techno Reaper X-9000
─Actual danger level: SS-class.
─Current (nerfed) danger level: A-class.
■Cyborg Dragon Z-White
─Actual danger level: SS-class.
─Current (nerfed) danger level: A-class.
—
On the 56th day in the labyrinth.
I successfully tamed Omega.
─[Bbyong bbyong. So this is what it feels like.]
“And how does it feel?”
─[It makes me want to meet you right now and give you a deep kiss. Bbyong.]
“…”
【Pururu】 ─That’s truly disgusting.
【Mysticism】 ─🤢
【Bubble Bubble】 ─Not all monsters are thinking the same thing, right?
【Yumi】 ─No way. Each monster must have different thoughts.
Omega continued to fumble over her body for a long time.
It seemed she was deeply intrigued by the change in her emotions.
─[I’ll leave further research on this for later… For now, we must go and subjugate the Mechanical Hydra before it becomes stronger. Bbyong.]
“Right, Omega. About the Mechanical Hydra… Do we really have to eliminate it?”
─[Bbyo-ring?]
“No, I mean, wouldn’t it be great if we could tame it instead? Even if it’s a violent creature, it’ll become docile if taming is successful, right?”
─[Bbyong. That’s a bad idea. It might become tame only for you and remain violent towards other beings. And if we try to subdue it carefully for taming, we might end up being the ones who get hurt. So, don’t even think about taming it; from the start, we must aim to eliminate it thoroughly.]
“If that’s how you feel, then I guess I have no choice.”
I felt a bit disappointed.
If we could succeed in taming the Mechanical Hydra, it would’ve been like acquiring seven SSS-class beings.
But what could I do?
I had to follow Omega’s advice and give up.
The risk of taming it was just too high.
─[Even if we can’t tame it, there’s no need to be disappointed. If we kill the Mechanical Hydra, we can use its parts to create excellent machines. Bbyong bbyong.]
After saying that, Omega gathered the mechanical army that had been on standby all over the Machine Factory.
The time for the subjugation had come.
—
Breaking the silence of the Machine Graveyard.
The massive mechanical army began its march.
Amid the desolate landscape filled with rusted steel frames, broken circuit boards, various mechanical parts, metals, and scrap.
An endless procession of machines continued.
Our exploration team joined the ranks and soon took the lead.
I watched the march in awe but soon halted my admiration to give instructions to the exploration team.
The orders were simple.
Let the puppet monsters fight at the front as much as possible.
If a dangerous attack targeted other team members, the puppets should sacrifice themselves to take the hit.
None of the monsters objected to this order.
The puppets, too, accepted it without hesitation.
It was a natural reaction.
As long as the Puppet Master was alive.
The puppets would never truly die, and even if broken, they would rise again.
The puppets knew this too.
“And if it looks like we’re going to lose, retreat immediately. Don’t think about fighting to the death.”
─[Understood, Father.]
─[Ong!]
Arachne and the Jellyfish Princess replied.
The other exploration members nodded in agreement.
“You too, Omega.”
─[Bbyong?]
“If we’re about to lose, retreat right away. If you die, everything will be for nothing. Even in defeat, you need to survive so we can plan for the future.”
─[Bbyong bbyong. I understand. I promise not to overextend.]
At that moment.
The Cyborg Dragon, who had detached from the formation and was scouting the Machine Graveyard, shouted.
─[Master! I’ve found the Mechanical Hydra! We must halt the march!]
As soon as its voice echoed through the air.
Rumble…
Among the massive piles of rusted steel.
Seven snake-like heads slowly rose, and as they moved, the surrounding metal debris began to collapse.
─[Grrrr…]
The Mechanical Hydra revealed itself.
Its body was covered in black metal and bright red armor, intricate machinery wrapping around its entire form, while hydraulic cylinders and cables intertwined like muscles and veins.
A large black device was embedded in the center of its body.
Likely the core power source.
As we had heard.
Each of its heads was an SS-class monster.
【Pururu】 ─Whoa. That thing looks vicious.
【Bubble Bubble】 ─So all of that will eventually become SSS-class?
【Yumi】 ─Are you sure we can win…?
【Rise Nova】 ─Don’t worry. We were told our forces are superior.
【Mysticism】 ─😰
【Mysticism】 ─It’s way bigger than the starfish.
As the Mechanical Hydra moved, steam hissed out from various parts of its body.
And with the sound of machinery, its joints slowly started to move.
The creature fixed its gaze on the exploration team and the mechanical army,
─[Kaaah!]
And without a moment’s hesitation, it launched an all-out attack.
A barrage of lasers began raining down from the sky.