That was close. I managed to finish off the Worm by a hair's breadth.
I succeeded in aggravating the virus using the Cyst Bullets. It is an attack that kills with certainty if the opponent lacks defensive armor and can be hit by the bullets. It doesn't matter how unreasonable the enemy's abilities are.
Standing before the Worm, which had transformed into a giant cactus, I was wrapped in a strange sense of elation. A sense of accomplishment, fulfillment... I couldn't express it well. I didn't understand why I was harboring such emotions. I had defeated countless enemies before, but I had never felt like this.
However, there was no time to ponder the reason. The enemy in front of me was down, but this was still enemy territory. I needed to regroup with the advance squad immediately.
I had stopped the functions of the Almeiza Machine the moment the Worm's body was covered in metal crystals. As long as it was within the range of the radio waves emitted by the main unit, I could toggle the command to activate the suppression program on and off. If I hadn't done that, the aggravation of the Worm's condition would have progressed, and the cactus would have bloomed. If it turned into a turret firing Cyst Bullets continuously, Gragg, who was right nearby, would have been in danger.
The Worm was likely still alive, but with its entire body encased in metal, it couldn't move. It was safe to say the enemy had been neutralized for the time being.
As for the Worm's eggs parasitic in the eyes, they would have to be surgically removed. For Quinn, that wouldn't be too difficult. I just had to gouge them out.
There would be pain, but unless I was in the middle of 'Thought Processing', it wouldn't be a big deal. Since that state accelerates pain perception as well, it becomes unbearable. However, because the thinking speed to take optimal action is also accelerated, I can move as if I am ignoring the pain.
There was a five-hour grace period before the eggs hatched, but it was hard to say if that time was guaranteed. Since uncertain factors were piling up, I should deal with it as soon as possible.
The problem was what to do about the eggs parasitic in the main body, but I had actually already taken countermeasures. The Worm parasitizes those it makes eye contact with. So, I had predicted that if I looked at the Worm through Quinn's eyes, the main body might also get infected. The strategy I had prepared in anticipation of that situation paid off.
It was an application of 'Mental Synchronization'. The information captured by Quinn's sensory organs was mediated once through the eggs held by the main body. Usually, I increase information processing speed by networking this exchange of information between Quinn, the numerous eggs, and the main body. However, for this instance alone, I had unified the information transmission route between Quinn and the eggs.
Because of that, I couldn't use 'Thought Processing', my processing speed dropped, and there were parts where I couldn't make calm judgments, but the spread of infection was suppressed. In other words, the eggs acted as a breakwater to protect the main body. I could just crystallize and expel the parasitic eggs later.
As for the threads stuck to Quinn's left leg, I could deal with them by taking off the pants. The adhesive power was strong; if they had attached to bare skin, I would have ended up tearing the skin off. I keenly felt the greatness of clothing.
All that was left was to run. But at this point, I realized a major problem remained.
Gragg wasn't moving. No, he couldn't move. From his perspective, the sudden transformation of the enemy right before his eyes must have been an incomprehensible situation. The enemy had stopped moving, but because he didn't know what it was trying to do, he couldn't lower his guard.
I had partly created this situation aiming for that. Due to the poison smoke spewed by the Worm, the surroundings looked like a smoke screen had been deployed. Taking advantage of this poor visibility, I was able to hit it with the 'Erosion Machine Bullets' without Gragg noticing, but I hadn't thought ahead to what would happen after.
The Vow held by Gragg's ability was troublesome. Fleeing before the enemy was not permitted. Technically, it seemed possible to reset and retreat if the enemy lost their will to fight even without killing them, but how was I supposed to tell him the enemy was neutralized?
To do that, I would need to reveal my ability. The effect of the Almeiza Machine would likely appear as a threat to humans. Even if I didn't reveal everything, just crystallizing the Worm in an instant was powerful enough to buy distrust.
In the first place, could it be said that the Worm had lost its will to fight? A normal creature would be in a state of panic, but I couldn't assert that clearly. To confirm, I had no choice but to try moving Gragg.
If it was in a state of lost morale, it wouldn't violate the Vow, but if not, he would lose all his Nen abilities. The possibility of a mere human who had become powerless surviving in the Dark Continent was infinitely low. Even if he survived this place, there was no future.
Because he understood that himself, he wouldn't run regardless of the enemy's life or death, or their will to fight. It was an extremely troublesome Vow.
I had sparred lightly with Gragg before, and he was certainly strong. The pole he materialized blocked every attack. He handled the eight-meter-long pole like a spear, keeping enemies completely at bay.
What was troublesome was the trajectory of the spear, which didn't waver in the slightest. It was a light plastic pole, but even if an attack hit it, the impact was nullified, so it couldn't be deflected. Combined with its wide range, an opponent who could only fight at close range would have no way to react. perhaps due to his Vow, his combat style of pressing forward like a raging wave gave the enemy no room to counterattack.
It was strength born of a heavy Vow, but now it was backfiring. Despite it being a situation where he could definitely escape, his actions were restricted. This wasn't something that would be resolved even if I revealed the details of the Almeiza Machine.
In that case, was leaving without saying anything the best option?
The first thing to consider was my own safety. Since the result wouldn't change either way, there was no point in the two of us standing here with Gragg. No matter what he thought of my escape, there was no reason to be blamed.
I hadn't anticipated a situation like this, but since we were heading out to collect the Return, I should have been aware of the danger. A few days ago, I didn't hold the optimistic observation that everyone in the survey team would return alive. I assumed someone would die as a matter of course.
I even thought of that death as just a little spice in the adventure. An introduction to a dramatic development. The twist in the story structure. I was convinced that what waited after that was a happy ending.
The old me wouldn't have hesitated here. I would have long since left Gragg and run away. So why was I still remaining here now?
If I was going to run, then that was fine. That was one answer. Or, should I explain everything and urge Gragg to retreat? Or perhaps take him with me, dragging him if necessary, without saying anything?
Holding such options in my head, I couldn't come up with any answer. I didn't know what the correct move was.
"Why... why are you here!"
However, the words Gragg uttered then were different from what I had expected. They weren't words directed at me.
Reaching that point, I finally realized. I was inside someone's 'En'. I immediately guessed the identity from the unique quality of that aura.
"C-Captain!"
Katroi, who was supposed to be ahead, had for some reason appeared here.
"I told you to go ahead..."
"F-F-forget that, let's run quickly! Quinn defeated the enemy!"
Apparently, Katroi had seen me attacking. More accurately, he must have sensed it with his En. Sensing within this smoke screen wasn't impossible with En. Perhaps because I was flustered, I was late to notice.
Regarding the problem of whether the enemy possessed the will to fight, Katroi, who had the ability to sense malice, could determine it. The fact that he was proposing a retreat to Gragg was proof that the enemy had no will to fight.
With this, Gragg could move freely. We were finally able to leave the Worm.
I thought while running through the forest. Katroi had seen the Almeiza Machine's ability. Although the situation forced me to explain, it was certain that it would be perceived as a threat. And at the same time, the fact that I had been hiding it was exposed.
Since we were heading to collect the Return, this was something I had prepared for. It was fair to say my means of attack were concentrated in the Almeiza Machine. Still, I had intended to keep it hidden if possible.
However, on the other hand, I didn't feel any resentment toward Katroi for exposing my ability. Rather, I even thought that I was saved.
I couldn't decide. To me, who had been unable to do anything, he provided an answer. It ended well this time, but what should I do when a situation like this visits again?
There are plenty of situations where a moment's delay in judgment divides fate. Thinking about it when the time comes is too late. I must not postpone the decision.
Will I fight with them, what will I protect, and what will I abandon?
Thinking 'if I can win, I fight; if I'm losing, I run' is no good. That is the same as not thinking. I must decide on the policy that lies at the root of such tactical judgments.
Various thoughts came and went, becoming complicated.
"Captain... I-I-I have something to say."
I, who had been lost in thought, was pulled back. The voice was a small mutter like a soliloquy, but in the quiet forest, it was clearly audible.
"I will remain here."
"...Is an enemy coming?"
In response to Katroi, who wasn't being clear about what he wanted to say, Gragg seemed to read between the lines. If an enemy was approaching, he should just say so honestly. Katroi's attitude was somewhat strange.
"Think about escaping first. I will serve as the rear guard."
"I... I will stay here!"
Katroi's body was trembling. I couldn't see his expression because of the mask, but his voice was mixed with sobbing. While clearly showing the reaction of a terrified human, he stubbornly refused to yield his opinion.
He had sensed the enemy's malice. And there were multiple reactions. All of them seemed to be heading toward Chel and the others who were ahead. Presumably, the Worm possessed a detection ability that could pinpoint the location of the Gravity Stone fragment Chel held, even from a long distance. That was why our position might have been identified by the enemy the moment the stone was taken out.