Spawn-Camping

Through the rain.

The three figures charged into the Colonial Marine camp in one breath. For some reason, Kobayashi kept feeling that the captain he glimpsed out of the corner of his eye was actually a Shadow Clone.

The real one had quietly gone to investigate the Atmosphere Processor outside the base.

There were more adult Xenomorphs there, including the Queen, and even an ancient specimen with Space Jockey genes...

As he was thinking about it, a Facehugger sprang from a dark corner!

Slightly distracted, he instinctively raised his greatsword with both hands to shield his face.

Thump.

With a soft sound, the Facehugger's failed attack sent it tumbling to the ground. Then it sprang back up.

"Ghost... Slash!"

No longer daring to let his mind wander, Kobayashi Yoshito murmured inwardly and channeled the power of his Ghost Hand.

At once, ominous purple-black ghostly energy wrapped around the greatsword.

Whoosh—

As it came down, it let out a piercing shriek.

And so, under Uchiha Xiu's watchful eye, this rookie scored his first kill.

—The ghost-energy-coated greatsword cut through the Facehugger like rotten flesh. Its attack pattern was simple: it could only leap at its prey face-first, and the blade cleaved it in two.

However, just as his strength was spent and before he could muster more, the sound of something cutting through the air came from behind his head.

Another Facehugger leaped up without a sound, lunging straight for the back of his neck...

It was an utterly basic hunting technique. Uchiha Xiu had seen it countless times.

In the nick of time!

A figure suddenly charged out from his side. Relying on the slight boost to her combat instincts from the enhancement, Kitagawa Nacai swung her scythe.

"Judgment Hammer Strike."

The team's healer, who had also just completed her enhancement, focused her mind and imbued the blade of her scythe with a faint holy power.

Squish!

The scythe blade struck with pinpoint accuracy, like a stake of judgment. It halted the Facehugger's charge and pinned it firmly to the ground.

Acidic blood splashed to either side.

The golden light burned away with a soft hiss, but the scythe's sharpness remained unaffected.

"Not bad teamwork." Uchiha Xiu spoke in a low voice as his Two-Tomoe Sharingan stopped spinning.

With him keeping watch, the team's margin for error was simply too large.

They could safely practice.

Time to put them under some pressure.

"Idiot, still distracted? Another one's coming!"

At the warning, Kobayashi Yoshito's heart nearly leaped out of his chest. He reflexively twisted aside as the cold tail of an alien grazed his left shoulder, tearing open a bloody gash.

Pain stabbed through him, and the greatsword slipped from his hand.

The Facehugger, its reproductive tube already extended, missed its strike and crashed into the metal wall. Without pausing, it lowered its eight legs and sprang at its prey again.

There was no time to retrieve his sword!

The shadow of death fell over him once more. Kobayashi forgot that the captain was covering him. He didn't dare count on anyone else, and, relying entirely on his instinct to survive, raised his crimson left arm, wreathed in ghostly energy, and clawed fiercely at the charging creature.

The Ghost Hand's five fingers curled like hooks and caught the Facehugger.

He slammed it down with all his strength!

The scythe followed right after.

A moment later, the third Facehugger was pinned and killed.

In the span of just a few breaths, Kobayashi Yoshito had been caught in one reversal after another. He panted heavily, leaning crookedly against the metal wall, the wound in his left shoulder burning with pain.

The broad greatsword lay nearby, the purple-black ghostly energy lingering on its blade slowly fading away.

"You should be glad a Facehugger's tail isn't venomous, and that you had an ally with you. If you'd been alone, you wouldn't even need three of those crawlers. Two would be enough to kill you and cultivate a powerful Xenomorph that had absorbed the Ghost Swordsman genes."

"I'm s-sorry."

Taking a deep breath, Kobayashi Yoshito quickly bent down and picked up the greatsword at Uchiha Xiu's gesture.

At the same time,

Kitagawa Nacai caught her breath and put away her scythe.

"Slow Heal!" The healer murmured inwardly. A faint green glow rose from her hands, and a mobile magic circle appeared beneath Kobayashi's feet.

Gentle life energy flowed upward, and warmth spread through his wound.

The bleeding gradually stopped, and the wound visibly closed!

Three seconds later, the tense body of Ghost Swordsman Kobayashi Yoshito finally relaxed.

"Thanks..."

"We're teammates. What are you talking about?" Nacai met his gaze with a gentle smile, a little sweat beading at her temple.

"Seen this way, a Paladin healer's skills are more convenient than Medical Ninjutsu." Uchiha Xiu was full of confidence in the future.

The Soul Bender was a little reckless, but his combat instincts were pretty good.

For a rookie Reincarnator who had only just mastered supernatural powers, he had some bright spots.

He was better than those idiots who went blank under pressure.

And the healer was absolutely on point.

She stayed alert the whole time, followed up at the right moment, and provided healing.

"Keep growing."

"I'll lead everyone to victory in the final team battle!"

In the shadows, Uchiha Xiu watched everything unfold, then used the Body Flicker Technique to leave, in a good mood.

Just as Kobayashi Yoshito had guessed, he had used a Shadow Clone while the two of them weren't looking, freeing his real body to act.

"Let's make a real haul!"

Not far from the base, the Engineer's abandoned spacecraft and the Atmosphere Processor were both packed with even better loot.

—In the Alien universe, humanity originated from a mysterious extraterrestrial species: the Space Jockeys, also known as the Engineers.

They once came by spaceship to visit the primitive Earth of antiquity. One of the Engineers drank the Black Goo, and, in front of its companions, dissolved its own body on the spot, sowing fragments of DNA.

Many years later, humanity was born on Earth as a result.

Perhaps to satisfy some unknown need, or perhaps to destroy the human civilization they had created with their own hands, the Engineers sent another ship toward Earth in prehistoric times, carrying countless Facehuggers. It would be their last voyage to the planet.

Along the way, the Engineer piloting the ship was impregnated by a Facehugger. The vessel crashed on Planet Huangquan, and the chain of events that followed only began when the cargo ship Ripley was aboard received the abandoned ship's distress signal and mistook it for a human vessel calling for help...

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

A fierce volley of gunfire erupted on the ground floor of the Atmosphere Processor, high-explosive bullets detonating one after another.

The stinking gel used to rear Xenomorphs, coating both sides of the passage, was blasted apart in chunks.

The Colonial Marine squad had already suffered casualties, and they unleashed a desperate barrage of suppressive fire.

The Drone Xenomorphs scattered in all directions.

In the command vehicle, Ripley, missing Uchiha Xiu and his group more and more, warned in a low voice, "Captain, this place is connected to the nuclear reactor. If a fierce firefight breaks out and the nuclear facility is damaged by heavy weapons, the radiation leak will kill us all!"

In his seat, the student-soldier-looking Captain William smacked his forehead and frantically pressed the communicator.

"Apone, tell your men to stop firing and pull back immediately. I'll drive over and pick everyone up!"

"Do not use lethal weapons inside the nuclear facility. I repeat, stay away from the nuclear equipment."

The communications channel fell silent.

In the eyes of the Colonial Marines, the captain sat in the command vehicle, issuing orders to a computer despite having no combat experience. His words were no better than hot air.

They'd already lost three brothers in just a few minutes!

If they stopped firing, the Xenomorphs could pounce at any moment.

"Yes, Captain."

Orders were orders. The squad's sergeant, Apone, decided to compromise. "Quick, hand over your explosives. Grenades, rifle grenades—everything."

"Each team will fall back in turn. From now on, you can only use pistols and rifles."

"Hmph!"

"Idiot..."

Grumbling, the Marines watched the sergeant walk up to them and reluctantly handed over the explosives they depended on for survival.

Their suppressive fire quickly weakened.

Just then, a gale swept down from above.

A Drone Xenomorph that had been crawling along the ceiling appeared. It lashed its tail, effortlessly piercing the chests of two Marines right in front of Apone.

At point-blank range, a flash of blue light streaked by.

It was so fast that Apone couldn't make out what had happened. He only knew that the Xenomorph that had launched the ambush was suddenly sent flying.

Acidic blood burst like a rotten tomato, sizzling as it corroded a large area.

And that was only the beginning!

Uchiha Xiu, who had arrived just in time, caught sight of more Drones lurking in the dark corners, watching silently and waiting for the right moment to attack.

They stood nearly three meters tall, their entire bodies gleaming with a muted black-gold sheen, as if cast from steel.

Their tails and the various blade-shaped exoskeletal plates covering their bodies were the very image of primal violence.

"Bigger than the ones on the cargo ship."

[Killed Ancient Gene-Type Drone Xenomorph *1, received 200 reward points]

"But the reward is the same as before."

"This Main God isn't stupid."

"Also... add one item to my zero-cost shopping list for the Ninja World: I need a high-quality Ninja Blade for close-range decapitations."

The Kubikiribōchō, Samehada, Nuibari, Kabutowari, Shibuki, Kiba, Hiramekarei, Kusanagi Sword...

The thought flashed through his mind as Uchiha Xiu formed a Rasengan and continued his charge.

Acidic blood and shattered bones sprayed to either side.

The three Xenomorphs pierced along his path only stopped moving then.

[Killed Ordinary Drone Xenomorph *2, received 100 reward points]

The Main God's notification rang in his mind, making him frown slightly.

Ordinary gene-type Drone = 50 reward points.

So stingy.

Fortunately, the reward pool was large enough to let him squeeze out at least eight thousand points.

With the side-story rewards added up, he was guaranteed at least one B-rank reward!

And the Xenomorph Eggs at the end of the passage, which had been lying there silently, no longer had a dark-green hue. Cracks split them open one after another, revealing slightly pink muscular tissue inside. They burst fully open!

More than forty Facehuggers broke out of their shells.

Their long legs pushed off lightly, their tails whipping wildly through the air. Like rattlesnakes striking at prey, they moved at astonishing speed.

"Fire Release: Phoenix Flower Jutsu."

Flames blossomed one after another. The Marines protected behind him finally got a clear look at what was happening.

"When did the gene-enhanced soldier get here?"

Captain William breathed a sigh of relief.

Ripley, clutching little Newt tightly, was overcome with excitement. Her voice trembled as she said, "We're saved..."

In the darkness, the Facehuggers that had yet to awaken seemed to receive some kind of signal. One after another, they broke free of their restraints and lunged at Uchiha Xiu.

Sizzle! Sizzle! Sizzle!

Flames flared without end.

"Xenomorph juvenile Facehugger killed *1."

"Reward points: 5."

The figures on the black wristwatch updated rapidly.

Thump! Thump!

On the left rear, the layered, sticky Xenomorph secretions, which resembled the intestinal walls of a giant beast, suddenly burst open. Two monstrous Xenomorph Praetorians charged straight at him, trailing a gale.

Clearly, this was a planned ambush. First, a horde of Facehugger cannon fodder launched a suicidal charge to distract their target. Then the powerful adults hidden in the dark corners would strike.

Unfortunately... in the eyes of his Sharingan, every move made by the master of space hunting looked downright laughable.

Uchiha Xiu didn't even turn his head.

"Lightning Release: Four Pillar Bind!"

A rumble echoed through the passage at the bottom of the tower as four stone pillars crackling with lightning rose from the ground.

Blue-white arcs of electricity flashed between them, like serpentine creatures coiled in the void.

The two Xenomorph Praetorians were locked in place, their bodies gradually turning charred and lifeless.

The lightning field remained in place, sealing off the Xenomorphs' route forward and turning the passage into a bridge that one man could hold.

"K-kill me..."

"Please."

A faint plea came from beside him. Before she could finish...

Her wish was granted.

The head of the female human colonist, who still retained a sliver of self-awareness, was immediately crushed by the Rasengan. She didn't have to suffer the pain of being torn open.

But the Chestburster, already fully developed and possessing some of the basic traits of an adult Xenomorph, still tore through the woman's flesh and crawled out.

Inner jaw. Segmented tail.

If it were allowed to replenish itself with nutrients, the chitinous membrane on its body would rapidly recede, while its exoskeleton quickly expanded and hardened.

Uchiha Xiu naturally wasn't about to give it that chance. He pressed the spinning Rasengan against its face and casually ground it to pieces, earning a measly thirty reward points.

"Why are you waiting? Hurry up and retreat!"

The Colonial Marines, all staring at him as if they'd seen God, heard an unfamiliar voice urging them from nearby.

Sergeant Apone turned around and met the crimson Sharingan's gaze.

Two people who looked exactly alike?

A clone of a genetically modified soldier?

[Side Mission Triggered: Escort the important figures Ripley and Newt to the landing craft and ensure they escape Planet Huangquan safely]

[Mission Complete: Reward—one C-rank side-story mission and 2,000 points]

[Failure Penalty: Deduction of 1,000 points]

Although these soldiers didn't seem particularly bright and weren't on the protection list, Uchiha Xiu still planned to save their lives while he was at it.

"What are you waiting for? Move!"

Ripley, who had already survived one adventure, snatched the communicator from the commander and urged them over the channel.

Captain William came to his senses and drove the command vehicle forward to provide cover. The driver of the other infantry fighting vehicle followed close behind.

The others didn't dare hesitate. Dragging their teammates' bodies, they hurriedly raised their guns and charged through the hatch.

The Shadow Clone leaped lightly and landed on the command vehicle's roof.

In fact, the hand seals required for Multiple Shadow Clone Technique and Shadow Clone Technique were exactly the same. As long as the user had abundant chakra and sufficient mental fortitude, the technique could automatically advance from a B-rank jutsu to an A-rank forbidden technique.

Now... Uchiha Xiu, who fancied himself a little Hashirama, didn't feel strained at all.

The Xenomorphs charged at him in wave after wave, and the slaughter grew more intense.

Fire Release, Lightning Release, Rasengan—seamlessly chained together.

"Tsk, this feels like using an anti-aircraft gun to swat mosquitoes."

"So... if I want to build up a repertoire of large-scale clearing techniques, I'd better master Wood Release as soon as possible."

Beneath his feet.

Exoskeletons and wreckage littered the ground, and the acidic blood had eaten holes through the metal.

Fortunately, there was plenty of Xenomorph saliva here, which effectively blocked it from seeping through.

"Boom—"

The ground trembled.

As the colony's numbers rapidly dwindled, the boss, the Alien Queen, made her entrance. She crawled out from the deepest part of the nest.

Her body was enormously swollen. Behind her massive head grew a fan-shaped layer of exoskeletal plating, like a crown.

She crouched on the ground, her posture much like that of an ancient Tyrannosaurus rex. Sensing the intruder through pheromones, she turned her head toward him and locked on!

A yellow-green Xenomorph Egg quietly dropped.

She had probably realized this would be the last offspring she ever laid. With a gentle sweep of her tailbone, she nudged it into a web of mucus to keep it from being caught up in the fight.

Maternal love?

As intelligent creatures, high-ranking Alien Queens did indeed possess such emotions.

Unfortunately, Uchiha Xiu wouldn't pity his enemies.

Besides, they weren't even the same species.

Wipe them all out!

"Rasengan." Still unsatisfied, Uchiha Xiu began by forming the sphere, then used the Body Flicker Technique to close in.

The Alien Queen, whose brood sac had been severed, slammed her hard skull into him head-on.

Not counting her curled, coiled tail, her torso alone was over six meters long.

A rush of air struck his face.

Like a heavy truck speeding at full throttle.

The bony crown met him head-on!

"Boom—"

The moment her armor-hard skull touched the Rasengan, it shattered on the spot.

Her carapace split apart!

His chakra-protected hand plunged straight through her skull, spraying yellow-green fluid mixed with bone fragments.

The Queen leaped; the Queen went down.

"Beasts will be beasts. The harder their heads, the faster they die."

Uchiha Xiu's strength had improved dramatically, leaving him almost completely transformed, and he was beginning to regain his confidence.

Even if I return to monster-infested Konoha, I'll be someone to reckon with, won't I? I've got the strength of an elite jonin and secretly know the Rasengan and the Wood Release bloodline limit.