The strong aspects of the Predator are not few.
It has the predatory ability to eat any creature, an evolutionary ability that can go in any direction but is unpredictable, and a terrifying vitality that cannot be killed unless it is completely decomposed.
And above all these elements is its regenerative ability.
“Rear attack! Commence firing!”
The crimson Predator, which had regenerated the damaged parts in an instant, swung a massive chunk of meat that protruded like an arm and destroyed the city. From the moment it clearly recognized that there were enemies threatening it around due to the Spacystro’s attack, the Predator’s movements changed completely.
It began combat to face the enemy rather than moving randomly to chase lifeforms.
“Doesn’t seem to have gotten tougher than before?”
“I don’t need to tell you that.”
At Esmeralda’s command, Theo and I, who were behind, pulled the triggers of our electronic cannons towards the Predator. The flash that extended destroyed the Predator’s body, but the destruction was not as extensive as in the beginning.
In a short time, the Predator had evolved to protect itself.
“The learning speed is fast. If it’s a prolonged battle, we won’t stand a chance.”
“I know too!”
Siera, after loudly answering the soldier reporting about cutting the tentacles extended from the Predator’s hand, cut another tentacle that extended again.
The massive chunk of meat standing in the middle of the city, towering at 7 meters with a large body, attacked the Spacystro by extending tentacles as if it didn’t care about incoming attacks.
But we aren’t just standing by. The Predator tried to threaten us by destroying buildings, and those close to it quickly cut the Predator’s tentacles to minimize damage.
“Damn!”
While pulling the trigger and shooting electronic beams at the Predator, one of its tentacles flew toward us.
“Ahh!”
Luche, who was cutting the tentacle, rotated in mid-air and swung a giant scythe, instantly slicing the extending tentacle.
“Spread out! It’s aware of concentrated attacks.”
In response to Luche’s order, my feet moved before I could speak.
The situation wasn’t good. Considering the Predator’s predatory abilities, approaching is practically impossible. Using the decisive weapon to eliminate the Predator would cause too much damage, making it practically unusable.
There were still people evacuating nearby, and some hadn’t yet taken refuge inside buildings. The reason for preventing building destruction and making the Predator aware of the Spacystro soldiers is to protect those who haven’t evacuated yet.
It was somewhat ironic that we, who had been fighting against Earth invasion just days ago, were now protecting Earthlings. But regardless of what we needed to protect, the real reason was to prevent the Predator’s invasion rather than to protect Earth.
“□□□□…….”
Everyone’s feet stopped at the eerie sound coming from somewhere amid the scattering. The source of the sound was none other than the Predator.
“……What is that?”
I felt fear at the unfamiliar situation, even though I had never seen anything like this in the remaining records. The unfamiliarity, the strangeness.
Although I couldn’t understand what the Predator’s sound meant, I instinctively knew its intent.
“Did that thing just talk?”
The Predator spoke to us. Though it was a bizarre sound neither human language nor animal sounds, it was undoubtedly speech.
“Hold on. Its movements are strange.”
After pouring mindless attacks in all directions for a while, the Predator suddenly stopped attacking and started wriggling.
We know the Predator as a lifeform devoid of intelligence. It exists solely to grow by targeting prey, without any actions beyond that. It lacks purpose.
However, the Predator clearly spoke to us, and afterward, it began to exhibit unusual movements. Its huge body shrunk more and more as it wriggled.
Just as we stopped pouring attacks on the Predator to remove it, realizing it was indeed the Predator again,
“Damage!”
The contracted Predator extended numerous tentacles in all directions.
Judging it impossible to defend against many more tentacles than those extended during the fight, I ran towards the nearest defensive element.
“Siera!”
Siera, who approached to cut the tentacles, couldn’t distance herself from the Predator in time.
A wire shot towards Siera from her outcry grabbed her, and she was quickly pulled away before the tentacle reached her.
“!!!”
Though startled by being pulled from behind, she realized she dodged the tentacle and cut the incoming tentacle while being pulled, then hid behind a wall upon landing.
“Thanks, Theo.”
“You’re welcome.”
Theo noticed Siera’s dangerous situation and used his wire device attached to his arm to pull her back. Only when everyone was safe did I finally exhale a sigh of relief.
Though I couldn’t check individually, everyone seemed to have dodged the numerous tentacles extended by the Predator. However, only the Spacystro soldiers managed to dodge.
“Ahh!”
Tentacles that broke through the windows of surrounding buildings stabbed and ate those still hiding inside buildings.
“Damn!”
To prevent further damage, I aimed my electronic cannon at the Predator from behind the wall. But I froze in shock at the sudden change in the scene.
The Predator, having extended tentacles in all directions, floated high up. Though smaller than before, the roughly 3-meter round mass of meat still looked huge.
Most unsettling was how it floated in the air after extending tentacles in all directions, resembling a cocoon of an insect, instilling unease.
“Movement stopped! Attack!”
Angelique wielded her greatsword with both hands to cut the tentacles. Esmeralda also grabbed the tentacles with her massive mechanical arm and burned them. Soldiers scattered around shot electronic beams at the Predator.
With successive attacks and explosions, smoke rose, and the Predator in the center of Yeondongpo became the target of numerous attacks.
“Hold on. Something feels off.”
Midway through shooting electronic beams at the Predator, I paused due to an unsettling feeling.
“What’s off? What?”
“It talked to us just now.”
“……Yeah.”
Though I didn’t want to recall the eerie sound made by the Predator, Kluger also perceived it as the Predator speaking.
“And when extending tentacles, it seemed like they spread out from the center.”
“Why?”
“Does the Predator have a center?”
“…….”
The Predator lacks a center, such as a heart or brain, or any organs one might call organs.
The crimson mass of meat lacked any organs other than its mouth. The term “mouth” was simply a convenient way to refer to the organ used for feeding by those who had fought Predators countless times, but no one actually knows if Predators truly have a mouth.
“Talking, having a center.”
It differed from what we knew about the Predator. Similarities include feeding and evolving, and regenerating.
The Predator possesses all these characteristics. Yet, it differs from the typical Predator. It seems like a different lifeform possessing the Predator’s traits.
“Is this really a Predator?”
I alone harbored this doubt, but seeing me stop attacking, Kluger also sensed something off and halted. Not only Kluger and I, but others also stopped their attacks.
Due to the thick smoke, those with close-range weapons spread out, and soldiers with depleted batteries waited for the smoke to clear after replacing their batteries.
Strong winds blew between the buildings in the city. The thick smoke dispersed rapidly, and soon the broken mass of flesh hung in the void revealed itself.
The broken mass fell with a dull thud, dripping a liquid like blood. Even this sight looked strange to us.
Predators, lacking intelligence like flexible masses of flesh, do not bleed. Saying it looks like meat is because it appears that way to human eyes.
I’ve never seen a Predator bleed before. Whether this liquid is blood is unclear, but it appeared as such.
A liquid dripped from the crimson mass of meat, and our eyes met something inside.
“Eyes?”
Everyone kept their distance, but one soldier close by was hit and slammed into a wall.
“Gah!”
“Hey!”
Kluger rushed towards the fallen soldier, and I followed the object that attacked him with my eyes.
Something emerged from within the hanging Predator.
A monstrous creature stood tall with a massive body, reaching 3 meters in height.
Sharp teeth and fiercely torn eyes. Though eye pupils weren’t visible, it was clear it was scanning its surroundings.
Its arms, equipped with blade-like fingernails, appeared as if it wore a solid armor over its entire body.
“□□□□□□-!!!”
Another eerie sound was heard. This time, it was clearer than before.
This time, it wasn’t speech. It sounded like a roar directed at the world.
Without a helmet, the sound was loud enough to hurt the ears.
“A!”
As I focused on the grotesque creature, I snapped out of it hearing a voice calling my name. There was no way to avoid the massive fist coming right at me.
Thinking I had to defend somehow, I blocked with both arms, and upon impact, I was slammed into the wall.
“Ugh!”
“Damn!”
From afar, I heard Luche’s voice as I was thrown back by the punch. Despite the powerful impact that almost knocked me unconscious, I couldn’t afford to lose consciousness here.
Struggling, I got back on my feet.
“Hey! Are you okay?”
Looking around, it seemed I had been thrown at least 100 meters away by the monster’s punch, smashing into a building. When I turned my head at the voice heard from beside the ongoing fight, Drask was running towards me.
“Get out of here! Why are you still here?”
“There are still many people who haven’t evacuated. And I can’t contact the scattered comrades.”
“Though admirable, get as far away as possible. This isn’t something Earthlings can handle.”
Even the Spacystro who had faced the Predator multiple times couldn’t deal with it properly.
More importantly, is this really a Predator?
“Are you guys fighting with that thing? What is that?”
“I don’t know. I thought it was the same type as what we know…”
We need to return to the front lines. Comrades are fighting far away.
Above all, to identify its nature, we have no choice but to fight directly. We don’t have time to lie down after being hit and thrown.
“Though receiving orders from the Spacystro is unpleasant, run. That’s the only advice I can give you now.”
“Hey!”
Ignoring Drask’s call, I ran out of the building. My electronic cannon was shattered by the punch, and I held nothing but a pipe wrench that I grabbed from a broken hardware store.
I noticed one thing when I was thrown.
“This side is A. It seems the unidentified entity lacks predatory ability. However, it possesses strong power, so everyone should be cautious.”
If this were a Predator, I would have been eaten the moment it touched me. While I’m not certain, it didn’t eat me.
It suggests either the lack of predatory ability or conditional possession. In other words, close combat is possible.
“This guy!”
Siera and Luche, in close proximity, dodged the monstrous creature’s attacks and struck its thick skin-like hide, and upon seeing its back, dived in and swung the pipe wrench.
