135
-x-X-x-
｢Wow! We won!｣
｢I｣ ｢victory｣ ｢coolness.｣
Facing the carcass of the sea monster, Number 26 extended two tentacles and struck a triumphant pose. Adhai climbed onto the monster, spread her wings wide, and savored the joy of victory.
｢I thought I had lived in this world for quite a long time, but this experience is a first.｣
The Mother of the Sky, transformed as a griffin, admired the celebratory ceremony of victory, watching with awe.
[ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ (clever ones, aren't they?)]
｢…During the battle, I had no choice but to borrow this. Take it back.｣
As I approached, she handed me the spear she had been biting with her mouth.
｢Given how well Adhai and I sync, I might have to rely on her in the future.｣
Adhai, being a young green Gallagon and a mutant, is still small. Becoming a White Gallagon would make her much stronger, but it will take time.
Filling in her shortcomings using the Mother of the Sky was not a bad idea.
Thinking about giving her the priest's golden spear later, Number 26 approached us.
｢Big baby! We took care of the bad guy for you!｣
[ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZ (Yes, you did well).]
｢Yeah! But who's the friend next to you?｣
Since there was no opportunity during the fight, I hadn't introduced the Mother of the Sky to the children. I briefly explained who she was to Number 26.
｢So, is the friend also the leader of the family?｣
"…I don't have a family."
｢Why? Not a mom? Moms have to protect their babies.｣
｢All my children are dead. My husband too. I'm alone now.｣
｢I see.｣
Whether Number 26 sensed the sadness of the Mother of the Sky or not, it emitted a dark pink light. Come to think of it, Number 26 might have had a similar experience.
'Since all its kin were experimented on and died.'
Number 26, the last survivor among the Bubble Amoebas on the research ship. Perhaps, it understands her sorrow better than any of us.
He remained silent for a moment as if pondering something before emitting waves again.
｢Mom has to be strong enough to protect her babies.｣
｢…Yes.｣
｢So, I'll call you the middle baby.｣
｢What?｣
The Mother of the Sky questioned, seemingly confused. Ignoring her reaction, Number 26 continued emitting waves.
｢Your friend is a mom but couldn't protect the babies, so she's still a baby. That's why the middle baby.｣
｢Uh…｣
A perplexed emotion crossed her eagle-like face. Her gaze shifted left and right before settling on me.
Since I showed no particular reaction, she had no choice but to accept. As she nodded, Number 26 emitted a brief glow and added a few more words.
｢Let's all strive to be strong enough to protect our family, even the middle baby!｣
"…"
These were the last words left by Number 26. Its words about growing the strength to protect family seemed to resonate deeply within the Mother of the Sky. Her resistance seemed to diminish from her eyes.
｢Thank you.｣
Number 26 and Adhai communicate solely through their unique wavelengths and telepathy. Thus, the Mother of the Sky communicates with them using a special necklace around her neck to transmit telepathic messages.
The telepathic message she sent now seemed to contain a bit more sincerity compared to before.
After finishing her conversation with the Mother of the Sky, Number 26 called me this time.
｢Big guy, there's somewhere we need to go.｣
[ZZZ ZZZZ (Go where?)]
｢Come with me. We might be late if we don't hurry.｣
It seemed urgent.
I pondered over what Number 26's wavelength meant.
｢I've already captured the Pale Mask, so there shouldn't be any new threats… Oh.｣
Come to think of it, Number 26 mentioned something before. To borrow its expression, it meant that a friend's family was in danger because of the Pale Mask, which it referred to as a "bad guy."
｢A friend's family.｣
Given the context, it seemed certain that the friend referred to the Sea Demon. If it mentioned family, was it referring to other Sea Demons?
'That can't be it. Sea Demons, not just one, but a group wouldn't have lost to the Pale Mask.'
It probably referred to the Bubble Amoebas dwelling with the Sea Demon as family.
To be honest, I wasn't interested in Bubble Amoebas. Even if they contained genetic essence I didn't know, it wasn't my place to catch them in front of Number 26.
'But I can't refuse to go.'
It must be wanting to go with me because there's something I don't know. Hence, I nodded.
'After all, we'll have to wait a bit longer to prey on the Pale Mask.'
There's about 30 minutes left until I can use the 'Symbol of Hunt'. It wouldn't be a problem to attend to other matters during that time.
Before leaving, I instructed Adhai to eat.
｢I｣ ｢head｣ ｢meal｣ ｢impossible?｣
[Zu zu zu zu zu zu zu zu (Don't eat because there's poison in the head).]
｢Understood｣ ｢ugly friend｣ ｢together｣ ｢meal.｣
｢Wait. Who are you calling ugly?｣
｢You｣ ｢tail｣ ｢none｣ ｢horn｣ ｢none｣ ｢ugly.｣
｢… Sigh.｣
Leaving behind the bizarre conversation with the Mother of the Sky and Adhai, Number 26 and I submerged back into the water.
｢It's this way.｣
With its long fins spread wide, Number 26 gradually led me deeper into the sea. Passing the depths' research base, he swam beneath the ocean trench below the abyss.
Entering along with him, I was greeted by a darkness so dense it was unimaginable.
'It's like the cosmos.'
When we commonly describe the universe, we often use concepts and words related to water. For example, we refer to spacecraft as spaceships, and instead of using the word "space travel," we say "voyage." This space, devoid of even a single beam of light, was another form of universe above.
At that moment, Number 26 radiated light like a star in the universe, shining on its own. The light was not as intense as the sunlight or as pale as moonlight reflected by sunlight.
It simply, mysteriously, yet simultaneously, emitted a warm feeling, dispelling the veil of darkness.
As we descended I witnessed an astonishing sight.
In the distance, specks of light began to appear.
'Stars?'
In the darkness, stars shining brightly in a pinkish hue, much like Number 26.
They were Number 26's kin, the Bubble Amoebas, shining in resonance with him.
｢My friend's family is alive!｣
Number 26 exclaimed with relief upon seeing them.
She sent scattered beams of light to the Bubble Amoeba clusters. Unlike when she conveyed her intentions to me, her body emitted a mixture of various colors of light this time.
'This must be the communication among the Bubble Amoebas.'
Considering that I communicate through wavelengths created by the monster's tentacles, it's not surprising that their method would be different.
As if acknowledging the message sent from our side, lights of various colors flickered from their side. Another nearby cluster, upon seeing Number 26's light, joined the conversation.
The sight of Bubble Amoeba clusters illuminating themselves for communication was akin to meteor showers or the Milky Way on a clear night.
The fact that the weakest creatures could emit such strong light in the dark and heavy depths of the ocean floor, where it seemed life didn't exist at all, would surely evoke awe even in the most emotionally dry individuals.
'…Amazing.'
The kaleidoscope of colorful lights on the stage veiled by darkness was stunningly beautiful.
I've never seen such a spectacle in games. Even if such an event existed, could a VR machine truly capture this enchanting scenery even by 1%? It's safe to say it's impossible.
The seemingly endless conversation of light and colors unexpectedly ended abruptly. Number 26's body, which had emitted lights of various colors for communication, returned to its pink hue.
｢They're all okay.｣
Although the Sea Demon protecting them is dead, its archnemesis, the Pale Mask, is also gone, hence they are now safe.
There might be other humans intruding, but with Muriel, who had connections to high-ranking cultists, dead, the possibility of surveillance on this planet being lifted is low.
From now on, they will live in harmony with the laws of nature. Sometimes encountering predators and fleeing or being devoured, and sometimes meeting new kin and thriving as a group. That's the cycle.
However, upon hearing the continuation of Number 26's words, I realized that the conversation he shared wasn't as simple as it seemed.
｢My friend's family asked me for a favor.｣
[ZZ ZZZ (A favor?)]
｢They asked me to be their mother.｣
I understand what Number 26's wavelength means.
'Is Number 26 staying here?'
The moment I understood its meaning, I was greatly surprised. It was because the sense of loss I felt upon thinking that Number 26 would depart was unexpectedly immense.
Even as I remained silent, Number 26's wavelengths continued.
｢My friend's family is weak. Without a leader in the family, it'll be tough when other bad ones come.｣
I wanted to refute that statement. That it's part of the natural order, that the Bubble Amoebas' ecology is inherently like that.
｢I know the pain of losing a family too. When family members are in pain, I feel it too.｣
Number 26's species is the Sea Demon.
Just as an Amorph has the inherent habit of plundering genetic essence from other creatures, it's natural for a sea demon to live with its family, the other Bubble Amoebas, underwater.
'But…'
With uncertain challenges ahead, I can't just let Number 26, who has exceptional skills, stay here.
On the other hand, I also want to respect his intentions.
'…What should I do?'
Unable to decide what to say, Number 26 made the decision for me.
｢But I can't. I have family to protect too.｣
Number 26 extended a tentacle and patted my head.
The emotions embraced by Number 26 from the area where we made contact were clear. Just as much as it occupies a significant place in my heart, it also values us dearly.
｢The big baby grows quickly and is stronger than me, but it's still a child. I have to protect it.｣
After hearing its sincere words, I could finally send a wavelength filled with my emotions.
｢Yes!｣
Although the wavelength was short, it was brimming with emotions. Number 26, who understood my heartfelt feelings, brightly lit up with joy.
With this, our business in the deep sea is finished. I prepared to ascend slowly.
The lights emitted by the Bubble Amoebas were pleasing to the eye, but I feel uneasy about staying here any longer, fearing that Number 26 might stay.
On the other hand, Number 26 still seemed to have unfinished business.
｢Big baby, my friend's family wants us to go down. Shall we?｣
[ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ (It's dangerous down there than here)]
Going further down would lead to the bottom of the trench where the Dread Hydra dwells. Although it's nothing more than a main target for the Pale Mask, it's not necessarily a weak creature.
But Number 26 emitted a glow with negative intent.
｢My friend left behind a treasure. He said to take it.｣
'A treasure?'
What kind of treasure could be at the bottom of this deep sea? Moreover, it's a Sea Demon's treasure, which I can't even begin to guess.
'Still, shall we go and see?'
Perhaps there might be valuable equipment left behind by a quasi-boss-level creature like a Sea Demon. I decided to go further down with Number 26.
We pierced through tremendous water pressure and headed towards the depths of the deep, deep sea.
As we continued forward for a while, Number 26 stopped in its tracks. In front of the gently drifting creature, there was a massive object.
/What's this?/
It had a similar appearance to Number 26, but its size was incomparable, a behemoth beyond imagination.
The terror lurking in the depths and the demon of the sea.
A dead Sea Demon awaited us in the depths of the world.
-x-X-x-
In the game, the size of Sea Demons is approximately around 20m to 30m. In other words, think of it as being about the same length as my body.
You might think it's relatively small for a sub-boss-level creature, but there's a trap here. Sea Demons can adjust their size and form as they wish. In their usual mode, they are only about 20m, but when they enter combat, they can inflate their bodies up to 100m. Its threatening sawblade tentacles also grow in proportion, and the range of their unique ability, 'Deep Fear,' expands.
As seen with Number 26, Sea Demons generally possess high intelligence. This means they actively utilize their abilities even during combat. So, for players responsible for tanking, the calculations they need to consider multiply exponentially.
'Even considering all that, this guy is incredibly huge.'
Perhaps it's because it has lived for a long time. At a glance, its corpse was easily more than twice the size of an average Sea Demon. It even surpassed the 50m-sized Pale Mask, which is considered quite large.
Moreover, large and small scars dotted its pinkish exterior, clearly indicating that this creature was no pushover.
'If it weren't for the spaceship collision, it wouldn't have died so easily.'
As evidence, there were wounds on its torso larger than my body. Even a powerful monster like this couldn't recover from injuries sustained in a collision with a spaceship.
While looking down at the Sea Demon's corpse from a distance, Number 26 approached. Dozens of tentacles emerged from its body and attached themselves to the corpse.
'What's it doing?'
I thought it might be a form of mourning, but judging by the atmosphere, it didn't seem like that. After attaching all the tentacles to the corpse, Number 26 remained still.
After a while, a violet light began to shimmer on the surface of the giant corpse. The energy, even making me, with my psychic reflection gloves, shudder with its tremendous intensity, moved along the surface. The tentacles attached by Number 26 were the focal point of the immense psychic power.
Using the tentacles like straws, Number 26 absorbed the energy, and a violet radiance emanated from it. The intensity of the light was almost indistinguishable from when the creature expressed emotions, but my auxiliary systems denied it. Massive psychic power was swirling around in Number 26. The amount of energy it absorbed far surpassed my psychic breath.
And then, the creature's body began to crack as if the shell was breaking. Witnessing this, I was momentarily taken aback.
There was no sign of pain or distress from the creature, which was a relief, as otherwise, I might have intervened.
'This might be something important.'
I quietly observed the creature's transformation.
The golden exoskeleton that formed on its surface began to crack, and the creature, now concentrated with psychic power, swelled significantly. The body, which had shrunk to 3m while confined in the research facility, rapidly grew to about 10m.
The psychic power was so intense that even with my auxiliary systems, I couldn't fully grasp the creature's appearance, but from what I could see, it closely resembled the dead Sea Demon.
'Indeed. It seems to be like this.'
Many players in the game speculated on the relationship between Sea Demons and Bubble Amoebas. Some believed that the two creatures were genetically closely related.
Among them, some players thought that Bubble Amoebas would grow into Sea Demons. There was a theory that the weakest creature in the ocean would grow into the strongest. There was some basis for this.
Most wild NPCs in the Space Survival world had a mechanism of growing from juveniles to adults. So, it was reasonable to assume that Sea Demons might have a fluid phase.
Despite countless players thoroughly exploring the ocean planet, no one had discovered the fluid Sea Demon. Therefore, the speculation arose that Bubble Amoebas, which looked similar in appearance, might transform into Sea Demons.
'Of course, hardly anyone took it seriously.'
Many players kept Bubble Amoebas as pets. Everyone knew that even if Bubble Amoebas grew, there wouldn't be any significant changes.
'But now, seeing this spectacle…'
Looking at the scene unfolding before my eyes, it seemed challenging to dismiss the growth theory completely.
Number 26, or the offspring of the Sea Demon, looked almost identical to a Bubble Amoeba. Since it could hide its tentacles and fins inside its body, it appeared smaller.
The delicate, fluid state Sea Demon lived among Bubble Amoebas, protecting them. In the process, it would hunt down predators threatening the group, gradually growing. When the time came for the Sea Demon's power to be inherited, it would undergo a mutation and transform into an adult.
'No wonder no one knew about this.'
Bubble Amoebas were kept as pets, not combat support creatures. Even if someone luckily obtained Sea Demon fluid, they wouldn't force it into a fight. So, it couldn't grow.
Not to mention bringing it to a battle with the formidable sea monster, the Sea Demon? If one thinks about it, they would consider that a Bubble Amoeba with no combat abilities would be a guaranteed death in a battle with such a powerful creature. Unless someone takes joy in killing their own pet, they would naturally refrain from bringing it.
One must fulfill the condition of rescuing a Sea Demon offspring that looks identical to a Bubble Amoeba and bringing it to the corpse of a deceased Sea Demon. In reality, it's an almost impossible-to-verify method.
While I was lost in thought, Number 26 continued absorbing the legacy of the Sea Demon.
However, at some point, the absorption rate began to slow down. Despite still having plenty of energy, the speed was gradually decreasing.
Eventually, the creature stopped absorbing energy. The 10m-sized violet luminescent body attached to the corpse slowly fell away.
The psychic power remaining in the Sea Demon's corpse faded away as well.
'What a waste.'
It felt a bit regretful to miss the essence of pure psychic power right in front of me. I scratched my recovered combat-ready head after shaking off the disappointment.
Even after the energy disappeared, 26 continued to glow. The light emitted by the creature was gradually diminishing.
No, it wasn't just the light that was decreasing; the body itself was shrinking.
From 10m to 5m, and then 1m. The creature, which seemed infinitely small, stopped at a size of around 50cm.
'Huh?'
It was a size small enough to perch right above my head. Its appearance returned to a slime-like form, excluding the fins that came out for swimming.
'A pattern has appeared.'
If one were to point out the most significant change from before, it was that patterns had emerged on Number 26's body. A spiral pattern of violet waves gently undulated on the deep pink surface.
Here, in the deep trench where sunlight doesn't penetrate, it remains dark. However, if it were to receive sunlight, wouldn't it shine like a pink sapphire?
The transformed creature approached me, fins fluttering.
[ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Is it over?)]
｢Yeah!｣
Just like usual, Number 26 energetically responded with waving psychic waves.
[ZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZ ZZ (A new friend will now protect the family since the old friend has died.)]
｢Yeah. I can't because I have another family. I only took a little to give the rest to another friend.｣
Listening to its words, it seemed that the scattered energy from earlier was being transferred to another Sea Demon fluid in the water.
There was no need to bother with the mid-level tentacles of the monster, and it was unnecessary to mention that it had climbed halfway. Although the words suggesting whether one should have just eaten everything reached the monster's tentacles, there was no need to say it.
Thanks to the Sea Demon and its consideration, somewhere deep in the sea, a new monster would be born.
｢Since my friend's job is done, the big one can eat it now.｣
[ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Is that okay?)]
With a positive meaning, the creature shone its body. Looking at this aspect, 26 was definitely different from humans. If it were a person, they would try to salvage the friend's corpse.
'Is mourning the death of one's own kind separate from dealing with the corpse?'
Certainly, 26's appearance was closer to that of highly intelligent wild animals with a social nature than to humans.
I gently stroked Number 26 with my combat-ready arm. The creature, seemingly pleased after being stroked for the first time in a while, glittered its body.
After petting it once, I looked at the Sea Demon's corpse.
'I can use the symbol of the hunt, but…'
With the effect of 'Horizon of Nightmares,' the duration of the symbol of the hunt increased to 20 minutes. It would be enough time to eat the head of the Sea Demon, which reached almost 50m. However, there was a problem.
'I need to go up and eat the Pale Mask too.'
It took almost an hour to come down from above. Even with the drastically improved physical abilities due to the effect of the symbol of the hunt, there was not enough time to climb up to the top.
'Besides, I didn't kill the Sea Demon.'
The creature suffered from wounds that it couldn't heal, likely caused by a collision with a spaceship. It had been languishing in agony and died. And quite some time had passed since its death.
'It's highly unlikely that I'll gain any special abilities just by eating it.'
Certainly, due to the nature of the deep sea, the temperature is extremely low, so the corpse itself has hardly decomposed. However, since I didn't kill it, the chances of gaining benefits from devouring are extremely low. Even if I use the symbol of the hunt and eat it, any creature I didn't personally kill is treated as equivalent to a genetic sample. Eating the sample while under the effect of the symbol of the hunt only grants a 0.5-level trait, not the full trait.
'On the other hand, it's not the same for the Pale Mask.'
It was a loot that we hunted together, unlike the Sea Demon. If I use the symbol of hunt, as usual, I can almost guarantee obtaining traits close to a 100%.
'Let's put the symbol of the hunt on hold.'
After a brief consideration, I decided to eat the Sea Demon's corpse as it is. Using the symbol of the hunt would result in more losses than gains. Even if I were to gain a 0.5-level trait by eating the Sea Demon here, it would be a disaster if I couldn't make it up to the surface in time to obtain the Pale Mask.
'Since the cooldown for the symbol of the hunt is a week, it's impossible to wait and eat.'
The area we are in is close to a tropical climate. Even two days would be enough for the genetic essence of the Pale Mask to be completely damaged.
'It's a shame, but let's consider this as nutritional supplementation.'
Approaching the Sea Demon's corpse, I swung my combat arm. Cutting through the water currents, my sharp claws pierced the Sea Demon's outer shell.
'Indeed, it's tough.'
Contrary to its seemingly soft appearance, the Sea Demon's outer shell was quite thick and sturdy. Its durability was even greater than the Pale Mask, so biting into it wouldn't be effective. Until I obtained traits related to jaws or teeth, I had to use my arms to tear off the flesh for consumption.
'Tentacles of corrosion are good for swallowing, but cutting power is lacking.'
Now was the time to use primitive methods. I used my sharp claws like knives and began to cut through the Sea Demon's corpse.
Although I wondered if Number 26 would find it awkward, it paid no attention to the fate of its kind. It simply played around, tapping the thorns on my tail end with its fins.
Having lost interest in it, I began to tear the flesh of the Sea Demon. No blood flowed; it had already coagulated since it died a while ago.
'Let's try it.'
I put a piece of the flesh into my mouth.
'Mmm.'
The taste was as amazing as the strength of this marine monster. Contrary to the appearance resembling a jellyfish, I expected a taste similar to jellyfish salad or cold jellyfish, but it wasn't. The flesh was more like salmon sashimi, with a slightly oily flavor. Additionally, there was a fragrant lime-like aroma.
'Overall, it feels quite sophisticated.'
The only slightly disappointing part was that it lacked distinctiveness compared to what I expected. Perhaps it was because it wasn't a freshly caught Sea Demon. Besides the striking lime fragrance, it seemed to be just a tasty dish.
Thinking so, I continued to tear off pieces of flesh and put them into my mouth.
'Hmm?'
The moment I ate a particular part, I couldn't deny that I had just made a terribly reckless judgment.
'The taste is different here?'
Surprisingly, the Sea Demon had distinct flavors depending on the part. The flesh I just ate tasted exactly like snail soup. It was the taste I had experienced at a buffet in my childhood.
The common point was that even in this part, there was a lime scent.
'This is quite fascinating.'
Amazed, I began to eat the Sea Demon's meat. The deeper I went inside compared to the outer shell, the more the taste became intriguing. The blood had coagulated over time, and the overall low temperature prevented the taste from being fully appreciated—disappointing.
With a series of astonishments, I finally managed to devour the entire head and brain of the Sea Demon, excluding the fins.
'Sigh. It didn't activate after all.'
With the effect of the Essence Harvester, just eating the head would activate the predatory effect, similar to consuming the entire body. Despite having consumed the entire head, the predatory effect did not activate.
I had anticipated that the conditions were not favorable, but it was still difficult to completely shake off the disappointment.
[ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ (Let's go now)]
｢Are you not eating more?｣
[ZZZ ZZZ ZZ (It's okay)]
I left some parts of the body and fins uneaten. Even with just the meat I consumed, it far exceeded my body size. Any more nutrients would be unnecessary.
With that, 26 and I left the remains of the Sea Demon and headed back up.
As we left, the Bubble Amoebas behind us bid farewell, emitting light. After saying goodbye to them, 26 stuck by my side, swimming together.
｢It's nice being with the big baby.｣
[ZZZ ZZ ZZ (I feel the same)]
While 26's size was much larger than when we first met, proportionally, it felt similar to carrying it on my head as before. Perhaps it was due to nostalgia. Even retracing our steps didn't feel boring.
After an hour of swimming, we were able to resurface on the island.
What greeted us upon resurfacing was the corpse of the Pale Mask, which had lost about one-fifth of its body. Beside it was Mother of the Sky, sorting its fur.
'It took longer than I thought.'
Mother of the Sky greeted me with eye contact. I turned my head and surveyed the surroundings.
[ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZZ (What about Adhai?)]
｢Just a moment ago, she was lying down, but suddenly she jumped over there.｣
She pointed to a large rock. Behind it, I sensed Adhai hiding.
Through the submandibular apparatus under its jaw, I could feel the heartbeat of Adhai. Seeing it beat rapidly, I realized Adhai was currently in a state of fear.
'Why the sudden change?'
Despite the absence of any apparent threat, I didn't know why Adhai was behaving like this. While searching for the cause, Adhai's mental waves touched my tentacles.
[ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ (There's nothing dangerous here. Why are you like this?)]
｢Little Adult｣ ｢Died｣ ｢Because｣ ｢Me｣ ｢Adult｣ ｢Death｣ ｢Death｣ ｢Death｣
Unsettling mental waves. After a moment of contemplation, I realized why Adhai was scared.
'Could it be because of Number 26?'
Having absorbed a considerable amount of psychic power, Number 26 possessed substantial strength. Although not yet a complete adult, it had the power to contend with most psychic beings, like the White Gallagon and possibly even the next stage, the Black Gallagon.
Adhai was highly sensitive to psychic power. It might mistake 26 for a White Gallagon or the next stage, a Black Gallagon.
As I pondered this, Number 26 above my head called out to Adhai.
｢Little one! It's me.｣
｢Little adult?｣
｢Yeah.｣
Seemingly having the same thoughts as me, Number 26 reassured Adhai.
After a few minutes of conversation, Adhai, now relieved, came out from behind the rock.
[ZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ (Many other parts are left)]
｢…How big is that thing? It'll take days to eat all of it.｣
[ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (It seems so)]
｢By the way, can it transform? Does that mean it can become the Sea Demon's adult form?｣
[ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZZ (It's not perfect, but yes)]
｢Sigh. It really has become a monster.｣
Mother of the Sky sighed, raising her head in either admiration or disbelief. 'Monster,' she says. She doesn't know anything. She'll be even more surprised when she sees what's coming.
[ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ (Now you'll be even more surprised)]
｢What?｣
Instead of replying, I activated the symbol of hunt.
｢What…?｣
Mother of the Sky, who had been looking at me, lying down, widened her eyes in amazement.
Like its name, the symbol of hunt, used for the first time since becoming a Quasi-Saint, began to transform my body into an optimized form for hunting and predation..
Until now, I have primarily used the 'Symbol of Hunt' as a means to acquire special traits. This is because it significantly increases the predation probability when I eat the corpses of those I've killed. Even if I eat genetic samples or corpses I didn't kill, I can only gain 0.5 traits, not the complete trait, but it's still better than nothing. Plus, it can be used as transcendent material.
However, my speculation is that the original purpose of the 'Symbol of Hunt' is not about predation probability. It is all about hunting and slaughter, specializing in driving enemies, smashing them, and killing them.
If you look at the description of the perfect organism organism, there is a sentence:
'My body is optimized for hunting slaughter.'
In fact, my current body is subtly different from the appearance of a perfect organism in the game. It has a lifestyle where I have to crawl using my lower body and tail since I don't have six combat arms and legs. The blunt claws attached all over my body are the same as in the game.
However, the size of my body and the head armor are slightly larger than in the game, and the combat arms are quite long. Overall, it seems to have changed to be much more advantageous in combat compared to the game.
What if I further enhance my hunting and predation abilities?
Although temporary, my mutated form into a better being is significantly different from before.
Firstly, the size of my body. It seemed to have almost doubled in length compared to before. As evidence, even my line of sight has changed.
After becoming a prepared organism, my eye level hasn't changed much since I moved with my lower body and tail on the ground. It's roughly between 7m and 10m.
However, now it feels like looking down from a height of 15m or more. I wonder if the Mother of the Sky in front of me might be covered by my shadow.
'Considering the length of the body, it might be similar to the Pale Mask.'
Although the change in size is the most noticeable, there were not insignificant detailed changes.
Starting with the head, the jaw, which used to split on both sides, has become much thicker and stronger. There was now space between the jaw and the neck, allowing me to open my mouth wide like a snake. With such a large mouth, I could probably swallow a human in one gulp.
As the jaw strengthened, the teeth also became harder, making it easier to bite through thick skin, similar to a Sea Demon.
One significant change is that auxiliary mechanisms under the jaw are now covered with armor, providing protection.
The auxiliary mechanisms under the jaw are considered the most vulnerable part of my body. Since they are delicate organs responsible for detection, they were not protected by outer skin or armor.
'Even in the game, this part was a major weakness.'
The armor covering the auxiliary mechanisms at the ends of the arms that emerge from my back, which looks like bone scythes, seemed to be made of the same material. It appeared shockingly sharp.
The four blades under my jaw reminded me of the appearance of the sea monster Makara in classic SF strategy games. The blade-covered auxiliary mechanisms could move freely as I wished. I could swing the blades when turning my head to harvest the enemy's neck, or when facing a large enemy, I could attack by biting and cutting at the same time.
Although the auxiliary mechanisms became a new means of attack, the detection function did not decrease at all. The reason was the tiny holes scattered throughout the blades of the armor.
These were not just simple holes; they seemed to have further enhanced my already outstanding cognitive abilities. I could read the humidity in the air and even detect when it would rain.
The eyes, covered by the head armor as before, were not visible. However, the performance of the auxiliary mechanisms had improved enough to compensate for this.
'The head armor has changed a lot too.'
Before becoming a prepared organism, the back of my head had transformed spectacularly, spreading out like a crown. Although the shape of the head spreading out was still the same, there were elongated spikes and sharp plates emerging sporadically on the layered armor.
The armor covering the head seemed to be at least three layers, greatly increasing its defense. Moreover, the addition of spikes and plates allowed me to maximize the destructive power of the previously used horn-piercing tactics and the so-called charge tactics.
'Overall, the appearance has become more menacing.'
It may not have the majestic appearance like the Mkahara, but in terms of efficiency, it wasn't bad.
If the changes in the head were a drastic transformation, how had the body changed?
Firstly, the back evolved in a double-covered armor similar to the head, and spikes and plates emerged between them.
If I were to use a strategy where enemies press down on me with their weight, just like when the Pale Mask attacked me, I would undoubtedly be pierced by the spikes and plates, leading to instant death.
And, as expected from before, a new arm with bone scythes has grown on my back. Among the eight holes covered by the whirlpool-shaped membrane, where the tentacles did not emerge, two holes were the ones where the bone scythe arms came out.
The overall shape of the protruding bone scythe arm was similar to before. Unlike a regular arm with one joint between the humerus and radius bones, mine was longer and had an additional joint in the middle, allowing for greater freedom of movement.
The main difference from before was that, apart from the increased size, the bone scythe attached to the end of the arm had split into two. Like pincers, bone blades protruded above and below, and I could freely move them according to my will. With the length of each bone scythe exceeding 3m, the intimidation factor was overwhelming. The sharpness and hardness had also improved significantly compared to before.
The changes in the bone scythe arm were quite interesting, but personally, the biggest change among the transformations in my body was in the lower body.
Since becoming a prepared organism, claws mainly used for digging into the ground or moving in water when crawling or swimming have appeared all over my body.
Those claws have turned extremely gruesome.
If I were to grow Genie to about 50m, would it look like this? The claws that used to be a blunt and rounded shape have transformed into short leg-like forms. Thanks to numerous legs, my lower body and tail were slightly elevated from the ground.
'At this rate, my movements should be much faster.'
Moreover, the wing membrane originally only between the arms seemed to be present between the small legs as well, so I might be able to float on the water like this.
Lastly, the upper body.
Unlike the distinctly transformed head, back, and lower body, there were no significant changes in the upper body. Except for the fact that the combat arms had become thicker and longer. The membrane hidden between the arms had also grown, right?
After checking the newly mutated body by moving around, the Mother of the Sky, who was in front of me, trembled.
｢Evolved… but you are still a Quasi-saint. What ability is this exactly?｣
[ZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ (It's my secret weapon, I can't tell you)]
"A secret weapon. Perhaps a special trait. If it's a special trait, it's not unreasonable to become this strong, but…"
Even though there was no response, the Mother of the Sky understood on her own. She was visibly overwhelmed by my majestic appearance.
Her neatly arranged fur stood taut, probably due to tension, and her eyes shook slightly. Additionally, I could feel her heart beating strongly through the auxiliary mechanisms.
Even when we first met and when fighting Muriel, she never lost her dignity, but now, she seemed to fear me.
At that moment, Numbers 26 and Adhai approached.
｢The big one got even bigger?｣
[ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZ (Just grew a bit)]
"The big one can also change its body, so it's just like me."
Number 26 liked that we had something in common. On the other hand, Adhai just stared at me blankly.
｢I｣ ｢Adult｣ ｢Question｣
[ZZZ ZZ (What is it?)]
｢I｣ ｢Adult｣ ｢Tail｣ ｢Female｣ ｢Judgment｣
[ZZZ (Huh?)]
The little one pointed towards the back with the tip of its wings. There, my giant tail was located.
Then, the little one pointed at my horn with its wings.
｢I｣ ｢Judgment｣ ｢Error｣ ｢Adult｣ ｢Horn｣ ｢Many｣ ｢Cool｣ ｢I｣ ｢Question｣ ｢Adult｣ ｢Male?｣ ｢Female?｣
[ZZZ (Huh?)]
'Well.'
Gallagon is an animal with sexual dimorphism, so the appearance differs between males and females. In males, the horns are thick and long, while in females, the tail is plump instead of horns.
The biggest change for me since becoming a prepared organism was, without a doubt, the tail.
I probably tried to ask whether I am male or female at that time.
After using the symbol of hunt, my horn has grown considerably. It's about 2m long now. With this size, I surpass the Black Gallagon. It's safe to say that Adhai belongs to the upper class among its kin.
In other words, from the perspective of Gallagon, my appearance is quite peculiar. The horn is large, and even the tail is thick.
Still contemplating how to respond to such an absurd question, Mother of the Sky answered first.
｢This one is undoubtedly a male. This transformation… ahem, there's no way this one could be a female.｣
｢A male?｣
｢Yes, a male.｣
[ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZZ (I am a male)]
In response to my and Mother of the Sky's words, Adhai nodded with a mischievous expression. The little one, who had been looking at my horn for a moment, sent a sign that it understood my words.
｢I｣ ｢Understand｣ ｢Adult｣ ｢Male｣ ｢Certain｣
[ZZZ ZZ ZZ (That's right)]
｢Adult｣ ｢Most｣ ｢Cool｣ ｢Group｣ ｢Leader｣ ｢Possible｣
[ZZZZ (Thanks)]
｢…Ha.｣
I expressed gratitude for Adhai's praise. Of course, I ignored Mother of the Sky's forced laughter.
Seems like the explanation to them is complete, so I finished the inspection I was doing.
Now it's time to carry out my original intention.
That is, the Pale Mask predation.
'Sigh. It's a shame to use such a good skill only when predating.'
I know that the symbol of hunt is a powerful card, but it's hard to avoid feeling regret every time I transform. If only it didn't have a duration of 20 minutes and a cooldown of one week, I would have actively used it in battles. It's quite disappointing.
'Maybe things will get better when I enter Transcendence Stage 2.'
The conditions for Transcendence Stage 2 are to use five fusion traits related to different types as ingredients. Thanks to the traits I've already acquired while exploring the swamp, I've cleared the conditions for Transcendence Stage 2. I'm just waiting for the new nest-related fusion trait, 'Symbiotic Spores,' to be obtained before I can proceed.
'Let's get the new nest-related fusion trait before leaving this planet.'
Despite being in a somewhat damaged state, the spaceship is ready, and Numbers 26 and Adhai have all gathered. I should aim to obtain the nest-related fusion trait until I can use 'Horizon of Nightmare' again.
'I'll think about that later.'
For now, it's time to enjoy predation. I approached the corpses with Number 26.
｢Where.｣
I opened my jaw wide and bit the head of the Pale Mask. My mouth, as large as that of a whale or a boa constrictor, tore off a large piece of Pale Mask's flesh.
｢Hmm.｣
Is it because my jaw is reinforced, or have my teeth become stronger? When fighting this creature, it felt tough, but now, I feel the flesh melting softly in my mouth.
｢This is an interesting taste.｣
The marine organisms I ate here were two: Fishrian and Sea Demon. Both had unique flavors, but in any case, the taste itself did not deviate from the category of seafood.
However, the male Pale Mask meat here is different. It has a different flavor, as if it's closer to lamb.
｢Moreover, the taste comes in stages.｣
When I chewed it for the first time, the fat and juiciness burst forth, dominating the intense meaty flavor in my mouth. As I continued to chew, unlike the beginning, it gradually changed into a smooth taste mixed with oil. Finally, it turned into a warm and sweet taste, like melted ice cream, disappearing behind my throat.
｢Compared to the Sea Demon, which had a strong and natural feeling, Pale Mask's meat is more straightforward. It's like the difference between a high-end seafood buffet and an American steakhouse.｣
｢Thankfully, it tastes good even though it was difficult to catch.｣
That way, Number 26 and I thoroughly enjoyed the Pale Mask meat.
It took roughly 10 minutes to consume the creature's entire head. At the moment when I licked up the last remaining drop of brain matter, the expected text box appeared.
[Predation effect activated! Successfully acquired the 'Humanoid Beast' trait.]
'Stolen the 'Humanoid Beast' trait from 'Pale Mask."
[Do you want to apply the 'Humanoid Beast' trait?]
The acquired trait was 'Humanoid Beast.' It involved generating a parasitic creature resembling the pale face, which served as the mascot of Pale Mask. While personally useful and somewhat satisfying to obtain, there was also a sense of regret.
'I aimed for a giant creature.'
The 'Giant Creature' trait is shared among creatures with a size of 50m or more. Acquiring the 'Giant Creature' trait allows the use of the giant transformation ability. If I use both the Symbol of Hunt and the giant transformation, my physical abilities would be practically invincible.
It might sound childish, but I wanted to see it at least once—the appearance of myself transformed into a giant while using the Symbol of Hunt. Since I have to hunt the creatures belonging to Apex to evolve, and most Apex creatures are large, there will be plenty of opportunities to obtain the Giant Creature trait in the future.
I shrugged off the disappointment and applied the inheritance of Pale Mask's legacy, the 'Humanoid Beast' trait.
In the vast universe spread out with infinite darkness, there were massive structures floating tens, hundreds of light-years away, emitting the only light in that space. The shape of these structures resembled refined diamonds. With a diameter of 3 km, the structure, decorated with ivory-colored hulls and gold and special metals, was astonishingly a spaceship.
Its identity was the Imperial Battleship, a mass-produced weapon of ancient technology from the Cult Empire, known as 'Judicator of Damocles 08.'
Just a few thousand years ago, the Imperial Battleship was actively patrolling numerous battlefields. To uphold the 'Doctrine,' the foundation of the cult, and enlighten countless planets and natives, the battleship had no time to rest.
Of course, that was all in the past. For over a thousand years, the Cult Empire had been entangled in internal conflicts. Even at this moment, numerous factions were engaging in meaningless skirmishes for their political gain within the Empire's assembly.
In other words, the external wars had ceased, and internal struggles had begun.
Since the era had changed, powerful weapons like the Empire Battleship were no longer needed. Some were retired, while others were stationed on the outskirts of the empire to perform defensive duties.
The Empire Battleship here, 'Judicator of Damocles 08,' was one such vessel that had avoided retirement and been driven to the periphery.
In this remote corner where no one approached, not even monsters like Metallic Gremlins or Outsphacers, the battleship's captain was repeating the usual course calculations.
If the cult aide hadn't rushed over, it would have been just another day.
"Captain, communication from the assembly!"
"If it's a faction joining request, tell them we've already declined."
"No, it's not that! A purification order has been passed by the assembly, and it's under consideration by the Elders' Council. It's expected to come down within a week at the latest, and possibly even in a few days."
The Cult Battleship Captain, with horns resembling a yak, turned his head abruptly at the aide's words.
"Purification order? Could it be an Outsphacer attack? When did this happen? Which sector is under attack? Is it such a serious issue that the entire fleet needs to be mobilized?"
"Uh, no, it seems not. The Intelligence Department received information while monitoring the Star Union that the Holy Land has been contaminated. We don't know which species is responsible."
"Holy Land?"
"Holy Land of Utopia 02 in planet of Saigil."
"Saigil, huh…"
The captain was interested in various exchanges with lower intelligences and even maintained interactions with inferior intellects. Therefore, he was well aware that humans and cyborgs referred to Saigil 08 as PH-101.
"The machines knew about the contamination of the Holy Land before we did? Has the assembly also decayed to the point where they are not informed properly? Perhaps some factions are involved in filthy dealings, making money through piracy or smuggling."
"…It's a disgusting smell."
"How would you like to proceed?"
In response to the assistant's question, he shrugged his shoulders.
"Well, we're warriors. Sacred warriors who follow the doctrine and pledge allegiance to the Cult, not a mere faction. If it's an order from the Council, we'll have to follow it."
"Captain…"
"Inform all crew members. Prepare in advance."
"Understood."
As the assistant left, the captain resumed plotting the course. In front of him, a simulated space, manifested through psychic power, reappeared. However, its appearance was slightly different from before. The space in front of the captain resembled the stellar system to which the PH-101 planet belonged.
-x-X-x-
In the continent of Utopia-02, what is the most powerful creature? The eminent scholars of the cult had once gathered and spoke about this topic.
The king of the swamps, known in the language of humans as 'Gel Alma', possesses innate strong resistance to psychic powers, agile movements despite its size, tough exoskeleton, high intelligence, and the ability to nullify protective barriers. The cult faced formidable conditions in dealing with it.
It's not just about the creature's strength. The swamp where the Swamp King resides is the most dangerous place on this continent. One must face powerful monsters while enduring the toxicity of the swamp that penetrates even protective suits.
If one is in their right mind, they would never set foot in the swamp.
Fortunately, the Swamp King is a creature with an extremely strong territorial awareness. It means that it doesn't pay much attention to what happens outside its territory.
However,
Now, due to the mysterious visitor, that common sense was being shattered.
Deep within the swamp, the Swamp King, who had been dormant, suddenly heard a sound. Although it was the first time hearing the sound, its distinctive rhythm felt oddly familiar. It resembled the sound made by the delicious prey it was fortunate enough to catch when it was young.
The creature with four eyes resembling fireflies emerged above the water's surface to survey the surroundings.
"■■Give. Who ■■■■…"
Upon hearing the sound again, the creature became certain. A delicious prey was roaming within its territory.
Normally, the Swamp King would hide in the swamp and ambush approaching enemies, but not this time. The intelligent Swamp King remembers. Those preys never wander alone. This time, they will undoubtedly gather in a group.
Before other competitors arrive, it must go and devour them first.
Deciding that it's time for a long-awaited prey hunt, the creature with a massive body rose.
With its pincers attached to the front of its body clicking, it moved in the direction of the prey's cries, as its ten long legs diligently traversed the swamp floor.
"Who's there!"
The sound was not far away, and this time, it was clearer than before. The four eyes all pointed in the direction from which the sound flowed.
"Please… I don't want to live like this!"
The sound was coming from an area with many rotten logs. It was a place the Swamp King, burdened by its heavy body, rarely visited due to the low water level in the swamp.
｢Kiii｣
The creature hesitated for a moment. Is that prey really worth risking danger for?
In a few minutes, the creature's legs began to move. The prey it remembered, those creatures with four appendages, had tender flesh and rich nutrients. Moreover, they had the habit of gathering in large numbers. Once preyed upon, it could relax for about a month, so it couldn't afford to miss this opportunity.
With each movement of the legs over 10 meters long, the logs were crushed.
Dragging its hefty body, it approached a clear swamp ahead.
"Someone, please kill me!"
The one who made the crying sound was there.
However, the form of that entity was quite different from what the Swamp King remembered. Normally, the prey would have a body with a head, torso, and four appendages. But now, the prey in front of it had lost its torso, and a sharp-toothed mouth and two white eyes were visible on a sharp-edged log.
Moreover, familiar objects were seen next to that log.
"Heek! It came again! It came again!"
They were the corpses of Swamp Kings. Three corpses of its kin with heads and organs pierced lay piled next to the log.
Only then did the Swamp King realize that it had fallen into a trap set by an unidentified enemy.
And the entity resembling a log spoke,
"I·re·lo·net."
The Swamp King couldn't understand the meaning, but he could understand one thing – that the sound did not bode well for him.
***
'Is this the fourth one with this.'
Contrary to its dull appearance, the Swamp King is a highly intelligent creature. In the setting, they never forget the smell, movements, sounds, etc., of a prey once they've encountered it. Therefore, it likely remembers capturing and devouring the cult that arrived on this planet. If it were the Swamp King, it would be aware that the taste of the cult is quite delicious.
I decided to experiment using their high intelligence. Two days ago, I acquired the 'Humanoid Beast' trait.
And my experiment was a success.
"It came! I did as instructed, now kill me!"
The face attached to my back screams.
The face looks almost identical to the MCAE pilot I last devoured in the research base, except for being paler. The original, the parasitic organism trait of the pale mask, and the Human-Faced Beast trait applied to Aymoph are completely different. The Human-Faced Beast in Aymoph's body cannot use hypnosis or shock waves.
'Instead, it has two effects.'
One is partially copying the habits and memories of higher intelligent beings, such as humans or cultists, that I have devoured. Even if the predation effect doesn't kick in, the genetic essence of the target is stored in my body. I can use the acquired genes to create a Human-Faced Beast. Unlike the parasitic organism, I can only make a Human-Faced Beast with the information of the last consumed individual.
While the parasitic organism's ability is to reproduce the dying state of the target as it is using pheromones, the Humanoid Beast copies the memories contained in the target's genes.
In short, think of it as a cloned human with only the head left.
Therefore, the face attached to my back can loudly shout as if it has a self-identity. Of course, I have control over it, so I can silence it anytime if necessary.
'If mixed with the parasitic organism, it could be quite helpful in getting information.'
The Human-Faced Beast trait can be quite useful when information is needed. Although a considerable part of the memories is lost when acquiring genes, most recently remembered things are preserved.
Thanks to this trait, I was able to complete the preparations for the departure of the research base, or the spaceship, before returning to the continent. Once my cooldown is over, I can leave this planet at any time by taking the spaceship.
Anyway, in addition to the information acquisition function, the Human-Faced Beast has effects directly related to combat.
'Sonic wave attack that paralyzes the enemy.'
If the parasitic organism's hypnosis is a kind of mazegi that seals some of the enemy's skills, the effect of the Human-Faced Beast I possess is very straightforward.
It temporarily paralyzes the enemy through sound waves. The paralysis time ranges from a few seconds to a few minutes. Even at its longest, it doesn't exceed 5 minutes.
It may seem short, but it is not.
It is a technique that prevents the enemy from acting for several minutes in a fight against a formidable opponent. The paralysis sonic attack of the Human-Faced Beast completely ignores the opponent's psychic resistance.
'Except for enemies without ears.'
Such enemies do not exist here. Especially the monster in front of me, resembling a mantis, the Swamp King, has very good hearing.
｢Ki-i-i-i｣
The four eyes attached to him wander. He is probably confused. The creature floating above the water is much smaller than him, and there are three corpses of his kin next to him.
'Whether to run away or attack, it must be a dilemma for him.'
Unlike him, I'm not particularly worried. Like the three before, he will likely make the same choice.
I waited patiently, confident that he would attack.
｢Ki-i-i-i-i｣
And what he chose was a middle ground between attack and retreat. It was to call corpse-eaters and have them attack first.
White eels sprang out from under his backplate and splashed into the swamp.
'Intelligent.'
So far, all three I fought either attacked head-on or turned and fled. But this one seems to be a smarter individual.
'The corpses created by the Swamp King perform attacks that ignore defense.'
As a Quasi-Saint, my carapace defense has increased significantly compared to before, but it is useless against the digestive fluid of the corpses. I responded by extracting corrosive tentacles from my back, and every time the elongated tentacles whipped the surface, the corpses roared in agony.
｢Ki, Kiiii｣
It seems the Swamp King thought it was worth a try since I didn't bring out other means of attack. The much larger creature approached me rapidly.
The two jaw arms at the front of its body creaked menacingly. It probably intends to tear off my head with those jaws. However, things won't go the way it wants.
'Maybe this is enough.'
Judging that the creature has approached a suitable distance, I initiated a genuine attack.
"I dislike… ki-iiii."
The Human-Faced Beast under my control made a grotesque sound, opening its mouth wide. A second, whirlpool-shaped mouth emerged from inside its mouth.
From the sinister-looking second mouth, invisible ultrasonic waves were emitted.
｢Ki?!｣
The Swamp King, who was charging toward me, froze in its posture. It did not move an inch with its jaws wide open. Having paralyzed it, I followed up with a second attack.
My lower body and tail, buried beneath the swamp, writhed vigorously. My hidden body, concealed underground, shattered the ground where the Swamp King stood and sprang up.
｢Ki-i-i?｣
The Swamp King, as heavy as the Pale Mask, was hit by my tail and briefly floated in the air. It barely managed to stabilize its body with the legs at the back.
However, the posture had already collapsed. I quickly coiled my tail and lower body around the creature.
The Swamp King's carapace is very tough. Even as an intermediate being, breaking its leg carapace is a limited option. Currently, the only way is to strengthen my body using the Hunting Emblem and then smash it.
I don't necessarily have to break a leg. I just need to immobilize them.
Confirming that the tentacles and arms firmly held the creature's legs, I began squeezing its carapace with my tail.
｢Ki-i-i-i!｣
The weakest part of the Swamp King's carapace in terms of physical defense is the abdomen. Realizing that its life was in danger, the creature screamed in panic. It probably never dreamed it would be overwhelmed by a larger being in its lifetime.
The creature swung its claws at me like beating a drum, but it was inadequate to prevent the crushing death. A few minutes later, the carapace completely shattered, and the creature died, scattering its internal organs.
For a creature known as the king of the swamp, it met quite a pathetic end. Confirming that the creature's breath had stopped, I released my grip.
'It would be nice if it floats this time.'
This marks the fourth Swamp King hunt.
I came here to obtain materials related to the Nest Fusion trait.
The other creatures are in the nests I've prepared in the forest. The reason I hunt alone is that there are only Number 26 creatures with immunity to the swamp's poison. Adhyana or Sky Mother also has some resistance to poison, but not enough to pass through the swamp.
Number 26 has high immunity, enough to swim in the swamp, but it's not suitable for fighting the Swamp King. Although it has become strong enough to be close to the Seed Demon in its adult form, it cannot break through the Swamp King's psychic resistance.
Since there is no one among the companions suitable for fighting, I have to hunt alone.
'Please, let it work this time.'
I've already collected one corpse for each of my family members. If this creature exhibits the predation effect and if it manifests a trait that I need, then today's hunt will be over.
I tore off the Swamp King's carapace and thrust my head inside.
'Tastes good, but…'
Chewing the meat with a flavor reminiscent of king crab is undoubtedly enjoyable, but it's already the fourth time I've had the same food. Eating the same dish three times a day, no matter how delicious, can become monotonous.
Struggling through it, the text box I was hoping for appeared.
｢Predation effect activated! Successfully acquired genetic essence of the pincer.｣
｢Extracted the 'Pincer' trait from 'Swamp King.'｣
｢Do you want to apply the 'Pincer' trait?｣
'Ah.'
Although the pincer trait is very useful in combat, it wasn't the result I wanted. I sighed internally and applied the trait.
As the pincer trait was reflected, the shape of the two arms at the lower part of my upper body changed. Like the Swamp King's pincers, they are large and sturdy, but with smaller pincer hands.
This pincer trait also inherits the Swamp King's psychic resistance effect. Therefore, it is applied redundantly with my 'Psychic Reflection Gloves' trait. Perhaps these pincer hands are the part of my body with the highest psychic resistance.
'A matching psychic power pincer.'
I tapped the newly formed pincer hands with satisfaction. Although the predation effect occurred on the fourth try, it was still a rare occurrence. Unlike in the game, Swamp Kings are not endlessly generated here.
'I wonder if there are a few more Swamp Kings left.'
There might be about two at most. If capturing the remaining creatures doesn't work, I'll have to consider devouring other creatures to obtain fusion traits.
Since the goal is to find fusion traits related to the transcendence second stage, I don't necessarily need to create a perfect trait.
With my revised plan, I entered deeper into the swamp. I carried the corpses of the Swamp Kings I had secured so far with the corrosive tentacles.
And precisely 14 hours later.
I could finally obtain the fusion trait related to the nest.
The Cleansing Weapon of the Cult's planet and one of the mass-produced motherships, Judicator of Damocles 08.'
Normally, the inside of the ship, which was as vast as space, was now extremely busy due to the crew members bustling around.
"In two days, we'll depart, so everyone get ready!"
"How's the adjustment of the psychic engines?"
"We've completed the adjustment to be able to operate in two days."
"Pilots who have completed the simulated training shouldn't forget about maintenance work!"
"The fleet sent by the Council has expressed their intention to participate in the purification operation!"
"For now, permit their participation, and the captains are requested to come to the mothership office. There's something to discuss."
"Understood!"
The captain looked at the complicated situation room with a satisfied expression.
Although all the crew members were moving busily, each focusing on their tasks, they all had one thing in common—a vibrant expression on their faces.
The captain always felt sorry that such talented individuals were stuck in such a remote place, and moreover, they voluntarily followed him as war heroes. It made him feel even more guilty.
'Sigh. After this Damos 08 purification operation, I should visit my hometown.'
He felt irritation about being here due to the Council's intrigue, but it wasn't the case for his subordinates. It was nothing short of a crime to let the talents of the Empire rot away in a place like this, especially considering that they followed him voluntarily as war heroes.
'I heard the priest of the seraph is clever. Should I go visit him?'
According to the captain's recollection, before the appearance of the priest, the Seraphim was merely a faction with a deep history but not much to draw attention. The Seraphim claimed to be the supreme, ignoring the emerging powers in the universe such as Megacorp or Star Union, this made it difficult to garner support.
Instead, the faction emphasizing exchange and enlightenment with intelligent beings, the Innovative Faction, was much stronger.
Everything changed with the arrival of a noble from the Cult. He transformed the Seraphim into the leading faction in the Council in one go. While one might think of the Cult as only skilled in political maneuvering, surprisingly, he also excelled in military talent.
Thanks to his excellent defense against the Outspacer invasions, he was unanimously appointed as the priest in the Council.
The captain, having had a notable career leading Imperial fleets, was well aware of the competence of the young priest.
"There are rumors that his relationships with women are not good."
There were rumors circulating about him sexually abusing female slaves, but the captain didn't believe them. Successful individuals often have those who envy them.
"Well… even so, just in case, before starting the operation, I should go down and check on the slaves."
A few days ago, the captain investigated information about PH-101. On one continent of the planet, there are Wolves maintaining a primitive level of civilization.
If the rumors related to the priest are true, female Wolves could be a good gift to win his favor.
"Anyway, if the purification operation begins, they will all die."
Ironically, becoming slaves might be salvation for them. While the civilization they built would be extinct, living might be preferable to dying.
"I should inform the adjutant."
Until the captains of the support fleet visit, the captain contemplated how he could gain the priest's favor
-x-X-x-
It took some time, but with this, all the conditions have been fulfilled. I captured two more Swamp Kings, but the desired traits didn't appear. I had no choice but to wander through the swamp and hunt whatever came my way to gather materials for Nest Fusion traits.
'Thanks to that, it took a whopping 14 hours. Still, I'll have to console myself with the fact that I obtained good traits like the pincer-like ones.'
｢Big one, can we really eat just it?｣
[ZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZZ (I've eaten a lot, so it's okay)]
I nodded cautiously to Number 26, who asked. Having completed the preparations to enter Transcendence Stage 2, I returned to the nest with the corpses of three Swamp Kings.
'This delicious food would be a waste if I ate it alone.'
When I was separated from them, I wanted them to taste this Swamp King meat.
｢Swamp King, huh? Haven't had it in a while.｣
｢Me｣ ｢Curious｣ ｢This｣ ｢Delicious?｣
｢It suits my taste.｣
Surprisingly, it seems like the Mother of the Sky has preyed on Swamp Kings before. As far as I know, in her stage, there is no way to defend against the toxins in the swamp.
Unless there is someone's help.
'Seems like there's a story.'
The griffon looked at the corpse with a bitter expression. Judging by her appearance, I could roughly guess what happened. Presumably, her husband, the father of the Earth, must have hunted the prey and they had eaten it together.
'Unfortunately….'
She has to eat this. The flesh of the Swamp King is necessary to elevate the Wolf's sanctification stage.
Currently, the Mother of the Sky is cooperating with me, but fundamentally, our relationship is a contractual one. She pledged to give me everything in exchange for revenge.
And I need a Wolf that has reached the highest stage of sanctification. Not immediately, but it might be insurance after I reach the Ascendent stage.
I extracted a piece of flesh from the tough exoskeleton and handed it to her.
The Mother of the Sky glanced at me once and took the meat into her mouth.
'Lucky.'
Previously, when I treated her, I implanted parasites in her head. After killing Muriel, I judged that the possibility of the Mother of the Sky betraying me was very low. So, I lowered the interference stage of the parasite to the minimum, allowing her to move autonomously.
However, the fact remains that there is a parasite in her head. Whenever I give the command, she has no choice but to obey me.
But doing so would completely ruin our relationship. She is a quite capable combatant, and not utilizing her would be a waste.
Until I reach adulthood, or rather, until Adhai grows into a White Gallergon, I need her cooperation.
｢Tasty?｣
｢Fairly. Just eat without asking. You should try it too.｣
｢Affirmative.｣
She chewed the meat, understanding my intention. Perhaps she was recalling her deceased family. The pumpkin-colored eyes were filled with an indescribable emotion.
Still, there was no resentment towards me.
Starting with the Mother of the Sky, Adhai and Number 26 also began to eat one corpse each.
｢Delicious!｣
｢Yeah!｣
Adhai used her tentacles like straws to suck blood, while Number 26 tore the flesh with its tentacles and fins and put it into its body. Both seemed to enjoy the Swamp King's meat fiercely.
｢It suits their taste; that's good.｣
As they just started their meal, I informed them of an important fact.
I plan to enter Transcendence Stage 2 from now on. So, I'm asking them to protect me.
'I don't know if Transcendence Stage 2 will fit into the cocoon or not. Even applying the unique traits obtained through the transcendence system, such as 'Perfect Organism' and 'Horizon of Nightmares,' took almost as much time as regular growth. There's a high possibility that Transcendence Stage 2 will take just as long.'
｢Big one, growing again?｣
｢Me｣ ｢Envy｣ ｢Adult｣ ｢Growth｣ ｢Fast｣
[ZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ (If Adhai eats a lot, she'll grow quickly)]
｢Affirmative｣ ｢Me｣ ｢A lot｣ ｢Eat｣ ｢Eat｣
Number 26 and Adhai, who already know what happens when I use the transcendence system, didn't ask separate questions.
｢Already evolving? You probably haven't fulfilled all the conditions for ascension yet.｣
On the other hand, the Mother of the Sky has never seen me use the transcendence system.
'Come to think of it, didn't I tell her about it?'
The transcendence system wasn't part of the game. Even for a ranker like her, it's not strange not to know something that didn't exist in the game.
I briefly explained the transcendence system to her. It's a new ability that combines multiple traits to create a single one.
After hearing my explanation, she nodded.
｢Indeed. I've heard that later on, dealing with too many traits becomes a headache for Amorph or Outspacers.｣
[ZZZ (That's right)]
｢But maybe that's your advantage.｣
[ZZZ (Maybe)]
All the players who came to this world received one advantage each. Muriel's advantage is in my possession. The Mother of the Sky also has an advantage, and I know what advantage she holds.
'It might be quite useful for a Wolf.'
Unfortunately, the advantage she holds is not compatible with mine. To be precise, it could be considered a downgraded version of Amorph. Of course, like Muriel, if I eat it, it might adapt to me. Honestly, I'm curious about what would happen if I eat it, but as mentioned earlier, keeping her alive for now is more advantageous.
In any case, she seems to understand the transcendence system as a unique advantage of Amorph. I am also half-confident about that.
'I didn't receive anything other than that from the system.'
Considering the 'Predator Sense' and 'Tentacles of the Monster,' they can be considered to have performance equivalent to advantages.
'Of course, the likelihood is low.'
Apart from the radical performance, it's ambiguous to consider it as an advantage since it was obtained as a trait through the predatory effect. According to what Muriel and the Mother of the Sky said, information related to advantages came in the form of messages.
[ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZ (When using this system, I will enter a cocoon)]
｢Like during evolution, right? In that case, the weaknesses might be similar.｣
[ZZZ ZZ (That's right)]
"Why are you carrying a sea demon and a Gallagon around?"
The griffon smiled slightly. As a former ranker, she knew well when Amorph faced the greatest crisis.
Honestly, there was no intention to do that at all. Acquiring Number 26 initially was an act of goodwill, but as the possibility of her being a demon increased, my thoughts changed slightly. It was an undeniable fact that I thought about raising her to use for my survival.
Adhai was clearly judged to be beneficial, so I took her in.
'But now it's different.'
As I roamed the battlefield with them, a deep bond formed between us. It's almost difficult to decide immediately if asked whether I can sacrifice their lives for my own. However, I didn't tell her that fact. It's embarrassing to say it out loud, and she seemed to have sensed what I was thinking.
After patting their heads once, I entered the burrow in the center of the nest.
After returning from the island to the continent, the first thing I did was to create a safe nest. I found suitable land for the nest, dug underneath, and created a massive communal space. I dug enough to comfortably accommodate me, and the surrounding area was on the verge of forming a new hill made of soil.
After digging everything out, I laid down the nest to prevent it from collapsing. Thanks to the sturdy mucous, it could withstand a considerable impact unless it was too severe. The nest was created in preparation for Transcendence Stage 2.
I lay on top of it and activated a semi-transparent text box.
['Transcend (Stage 2)': Unlocks a new type-related trait by combining five fusion traits. The traits used as materials must all be related to different types. Information about the new type will be unlocked.]
[Available trait list: Bloodsucking Tentacles (Fusion), Ghost Claws (Fusion), Contaminated Fungus Organ (Fusion), Protective Color (Fusion), Variant Enhancement Virus (Fusion)]
[Additional reward: The golden restriction imposed in Transcendence Stage 1 will be lifted.]
[*Note: You can replace the traits used as materials for the breakthrough with other traits. Keep that in mind.]
'Good.'
As the explanation indicates, for Transcendence Stage 2, fusion traits related to different types are needed as materials. I can choose from the traits I possess to use as consumed materials.
'In terms of physical traits, I'll use Bloodsucking Tentacles.'
After obtaining Horizon of Nightmares, the frequency of using Bloodsucking Tentacles has significantly decreased. As a mid-range deterrent weapon, Acidic Tentacles are much longer and sturdier. Therefore, it is a suitable choice for material consumption.
'It's a shame about Ghost Claws, but there's no choice when the competition is fierce.'
The competitors for Ghost Claws are Predator Sense, Monster's Tentacles, Observer of Fear, and Psychic Reflection Gloves. Unfortunately, Ghost Claws seem to be the material that needs to be used.
Similarly, all the infection-related traits were useful, but I chose Contaminated Fungus Organ, which is the least versatile.
'Contaminated Fungus is only effective against biological-type enemies.'
The special defense trait, 'Protective Color,' was chosen as it has limited usability. And the last material, 'Variant Enhancement Virus.'
As the name suggests, Variant Enhancement Virus stimulates forced mutation in specific organisms. If I stay in the nest where this fusion trait is activated for a long time, one of the possessed traits will permanently change.
'Frankly speaking, it's like a random box for traits.'
On the surface, it doesn't look bad, but in reality, this trait has negative effects as significant as its advantages. The reason is that the changing traits are entirely random, and even I, the trait user, can be affected. If unlucky, traits like Predator Sense or Monster's Tentacles might disappear, replaced by something like Robust Vitality or Minification.
'If only I could designate the target for mutation.'
Unfortunately, it's impossible to change traits as I wish. There were times when I didn't know this fact, and I had to create a new character.
Because of this, I only used the Variant Enhancement Virus when fighting against players stronger than me, especially Outspacer rankers. Since it can seal one of the opponent's main or useful traits entirely, it is useful.
However, you should be prepared to become mortal enemies with the player who received this trait.
'I should quickly use it as a material and get rid of it.'
After completing the trait check, I took another look at the materials.
[Would you like to unlock Transcendence Stage 2?]
'Yes.'
The moment I answered the question from the unlocking text box, I lost consciousness.
Two hours have passed since Mofupak entered evolution. Unlike Amorph, who needed to absorb nutrients as quickly as possible, there was no urgent creature here.
So, the three leisurely enjoyed their meal for a long time.
｢Middle one, not eating more?｣
｢I've gotten everything I can, so it's okay.｣
"?"
｢It means｣ ｢full｣ ｢Ugly friend｣ ｢eats less｣ ｢growth｣ ｢delayed｣ ｢'problem｣ ｢ugliness｣ ｢deepening｣ ｢regret.｣
"…"
Mother of the Sky had been suppressing the urge to squeeze the nagging lizard's head since earlier. It was all because of the small Sea Demon, Number 26, in front of her. For some reason, the little Sea Demon had become incredibly powerful after something happened underwater. If she were to fight it one-on-one, she would have to endure significant bleeding.
So, she kept quiet, but Number 26 pulled out his tentacles and hit Adhai's head.
｢Don't tease the middle one.｣
｢I｣ ｢actually｣ ｢said｣ ｢ugly｣ ｢truth.｣
After getting hit in the head, Adhai retaliated, and Number 26 swung its tentacles again. This time, the target was not Adhai but Redwood nearby. When the tentacles hit the tree with a diameter of several meters, it easily split as if it were a ripe fruit.
Mother of the Sky and Adhai were astonished to see centuries-old giant trees falling after being hit by the small tentacles. 26 commented,
｢Noisy.｣
｢Agree｣ ｢I｣ ｢made a mistake｣ ｢silence.｣
Number 26's terrifying power made Adhai immediately quiet down. Mother of the Sky internally adjusted her assessment of Number 26's danger. She considered it a formidable opponent who might cause fatal injuries rather than just significant bleeding.
'I thought Sea Demons were supposed to be quiet.'
Although Sea Demons were intelligent beings, they were treated as quasi-boss-level creatures due to their ferocity. They never stopped killing any creatures entering their territory until everything was dead. Once marked by them, you had to worry about Sea Demon attacks every time you entered the sea.
While Number 26 had a personality almost like an angel compared to regular Sea Demons, it was not entirely docile. At least, it seemed strict when it came to hierarchy issues.
As Mother of the Sky was lost in thought, Number 26 suddenly called her.
｢Middle one, I have something to ask.｣
｢Huh?｣
｢Little one, have you ever been a mother?｣
The griffin with the head of a man with a mangrove thought for a moment. She was named to match her departed husband's name. The wolves on this continent referred to them as the Father of the Earth and the Mother of the Sky, combining them as the parents of all beings.
'But what should I say in response to this?'
Although they married and formed a family, she had not experienced childbirth. For some unknown reason, they had not been able to have children. So, Mother of the Sky raised the indigenous wolves like her own children. Both she and the wolves called each other mother and child in this context.
｢…Embarrassing, but yes. I've played the role of a mother.｣
｢Wow! Middle one, you're amazing!｣
Number 26 sparkled at her words. The innocent reaction of the little one made her awkwardly avert her gaze. Then, Number 26's following question made her even more uncomfortable.
｢I have something I'm curious about!｣
｢What is it?｣
｢How are babies made?｣
｢What?｣
For a moment, Mother of the Sky thought the pink slime in front of her was joking. In fact, despite the serious reaction of Number 26, it seemed like a joke. However, Adhai also chimed in.
｢I｣ ｢curious｣ ｢I｣ ｢adult｣ ｢know｣ ｢want.｣
As Adhai often communicated as a synesthete, the Mother of the Sky often received direct impressions of what she was thinking. According to her feelings, Adhai's statement was 100% sincere.
With 2Number 6's serious reaction and Adhai's curiosity, the situation became so perplexing that Mother of the Sky remained silent.
Even though she seemed in a bad mood while saying that, Mother of the Sky was not well-versed enough to know the Sea Demon's method of expressing emotions in detail. Moreover, she was too flustered by the questions of these two small monsters to even think about Number 26's feelings.
'Are they asking me to give sex education to Sea Demon and a Gallagon?'
As far as she knew, Sea Demons and Gallagons were creatures in the game whose methods of reproduction were not disclosed. Furthermore, the fact that Sea Demons had bodily fluids was something she learned for the first time after seeing Number 26.
'Adhai seems like a female… no. Leaving that aside, can Sea Demons also give birth to offspring?'
｢That, um…｣
｢That?｣ ｢I｣ ｢curious｣ ｢curious.｣
Seeing these two sincerely interested in reproductive activities, Mother of the Sky felt her mind fading. While pondering what to say exactly, she sensed something with her extraordinary eyes and looked into the dense forest. Her highly developed sense of detection, as well as her ears and nose, moved fiercely according to the owner's will.
｢Wait.｣
｢Wait?｣
｢Oh no! Enemies!｣
Both Number 26 and Adhai immediately reacted to her emotions. They quickly dispersed and hid behind trees and rocks in the vicinity.
｢Enemies? Bad guys came?｣
｢I｣ ｢not visible｣ ｢enemies｣ ｢where?｣
｢…It's quite far from here, but they might come this way.｣
Except for the Amorph, who was underground in a cocoon, she was the monster with the most outstanding detection abilities in this place. She could sense that there were fully armed cult warriors several kilometers away. They were moving as if searching for something, meticulously searching through the forest.
｢You should be able to sense them too. Focus.｣
｢Got it. I'll try.｣
｢Concentrate.｣
Cultists emitted a powerful psychic power due to their racial characteristics. Sea Demons and Gallergons were the most sensitive creatures to psychic power. Even if they were far away, they could detect it sufficiently.
As expected, Number 26 and Adhai quickly detected the mysterious cultists.
｢Amorph… um, Big One can't move yet. It's in the middle of evolution.｣
｢That's right. Big One said not to touch it when it's growing.｣
｢Affirmative｣ ｢We｣ ｢enemies｣ ｢intrusion｣ ｢defense.｣
Mother of the Sky looked at Number 26 and Adhai with a serious gaze.
｢Yes. We have to stop them.｣
Her words were short, but the two small monsters immediately understood the meaning behind them.
Their most beloved being was in danger.
Purple flames flickered in Number 26's body and Adhai's eyes.