167
-x-X-x-
"…Dad, are you not busy today?"
"No, today I've prepared to go to a special place with our little darling."
"A special place?"
"Yes. We're going straight to mom's shooting location."
"Wow! Really? Oh, but didn't mom say not to come?"
"This time let's throw a surprise party for mom. How about that?"
"Haha, sounds fun! I want to go!"
***
"Someone help! Our child is stuck under the car!"
"The engine is on fire, it's dangerous! Step back!"
"■■, no! This can't be happening!"
"If only you hadn't taken him that day, none of this would have happened!"
"And are you blaming me for that now? Do you know who will pay for the expensive medical bills?"
"Huh, medical bills? You don't even care about the child."
***
"Ahh! Teacher! Switch seats with me! This kid smells!"
"Hey, isn't there a weird smell coming from somewhere?"
"Eww. There goes a stink bug."
"■■, if you're not feeling well enough to come to school, why don't you just stay home? Rather than just expecting understanding from friends, shouldn't you consider changing yourself?"
"Ugh, did I just see a monster?"
"Me too. Wow, I thought today was Halloween."
"Poor thing. If I were like that, I'd rather bite my tongue and die."
Poor thing.
Disgusting.
Why live?
Monster.
***
｢Huh?｣
As I opened my eyes, a slightly chilly yet humid air greeted me. Sensations that had been dormant stirred back to life, and I felt the lukewarm liquid flowing on the floor.
'A dream.'
Since arriving in this world, I rarely dreamed. At most, I might have had fantasies when evolving or utilizing the transcendence system.
'Is it because of the memories I saw when I reached transcendence level 2?'
Memories from when I was a child.
Days spent in the intensive care unit because of burns. It was a past I didn't want to recall.
'Phew.'
I had been forgetting about the events in the real world lately, but remembering them now makes me feel uneasy.
The next stage after Quasi-saint, ascension.
Though not certain, if I were to achieve ascension, there was a high chance I'd be given a means to leave this world.
I wasn't the only one thinking this way. According to the Mother of the Sky, players who came before me also aimed for similar goals.
'They all failed, though.'
The aftermath of failure led to the death of the top player, and the remaining players dispersed, each seeking new goals. That seed of conflict led to the present.
'It's the end.'
If even the top player couldn't clear it, the difficulty of the unachieved 1st place must be unimaginable.
In the original game, ascension was notorious for its murderous difficulty. Unlike other evolutionary stages, ascension wasn't just about fulfilling conditions.
The final battle. There was a last test from the being that held the secret of the world, and one had to pass that test to ascend. Among the Amorph players who met the ascension conditions, I was the only successful one.
'If it's the same difficulty as the game, other players would have cleared it first.'
That I couldn't do it means there are changes I don't know about. But that doesn't mean I'm considering giving up midway. I've become an Amorph Ranker, despite everyone saying it's impossible. If Rankers higher than me have failed, then I just need to be even more prepared than them.
'But…'
I raised myself slightly.
Near me, the others tossed and turned. Number 26, Adhai, and Mother of the Sky, all lay sleeping together in the underground space that had turned into a shallow swamp.
'What will happen to this place if I leave?'
Setting aside the causes and processes of arriving in this world. I don't think this world will disappear or collapse just because I'm gone. It's too far-fetched to consider this place merely a virtual game world. It's more reasonable to see it as something new, resembling space survival.
The experiences I've had all have substance. That fact troubles me.
'I'll miss them if we part ways.'
The longer I stay in this world, the deeper my emotions become. Mother of the Sky, who arrived here about ten years earlier than me, even got married.
My feelings towards them aren't exactly love, but there's certainly deep affection. A special feeling I haven't experienced since childhood.
'…Plus, there's something worrying.'
Can Number 26 and Adhai manage without me?
Honestly, there's a mix of hoping they'll be fine and hoping they won't. The former is a sort of pure wish for them to live out their given lifespan happily.
As for the latter…
'It's a twisted desire.'
A messy feeling of sadness, longing, and loneliness knowing I'm not there.
'Sigh.'
It's still a long way to ascension, yet here I am having unnecessary thoughts already.
Thanks to a damn dream, I'm wide awake, feeling unsettled. I should do something productive.
'The nest still feels a bit cold, doesn't it?'
The underground space, which was nothing but soil and ice, transformed into a completely different environment thanks to my touch. This was due to two of the nest-related characteristics, "Swamp Formation" and "Master of the Environment".
Both were traits acquired while traversing the swamp before reaching level 2 transcendence.
'Both were useless traits in the game, but they're useful in this way.'
Swamp Formation is a trait that creates a swamp in the nest. It's difficult to use alone, but when combined with traits that spread toxins or pathogens, it becomes somewhat useful.
It could be used like when I spread space bacteria in the sewers of the T&C Special Trade Hub. Of course, it's difficult to demonstrate such a far-reaching impact as in the game, where there are many powerful healing techniques and equipment.
'At least Swamp Formation could be used to inflict debuffs.'
Master of the Environment, despite its grand name, wasn't very useful in the game.
'The effects overlap with the nest.'
This trait's effect is to change the environment on the nest as I wish. For Amorph, who can manipulate the surrounding environment through the nest, it's utterly useless.
Amorph's nest has the effect of creating a beneficial environment for Amorph's survival. It has beneficial effects such as increasing healing power or supplying fallen energy.
On the other hand, Master of the Environment doesn't offer much benefit other than changing the temperature or surroundings.
'I never thought such a trait would be used in this way.'
It was kept in case it could be used as a transcendent material, but it unexpectedly came in handy in a different place.
Thanks to Master of the Environment, the temperature in the underground space has decreased to a chilly level. One might worry that the ceiling and walls would melt, but this was resolved thanks to the slime, which was the nest's material.
Nests spread within a radius of 100 meters block heat, preventing the ice from melting, and maintain a cool temperature inside.
And on top of that, there's the swamp. If light were to reach this place, you'd be able to see steam rising from the swamp.
'Heat emission and swamp formation. I bet I'm the first one to use them together.'
Lying on the swamp created on top of the nest, slowly emitting heat, it truly became a mud hot spring. Thanks to this, even Adhai and Mother of the Sky, who felt cold, could sleep comfortably.
Thinking about it, even the psychic organs and the traits I didn't use are being rediscovered one by one. I thought there wasn't a player among the Amorphs who played as diversely as me, but I need to reflect. There's still much for me to learn. With that thought, I adjusted the temperature I was emitting. As the heat from my body increased, the temperature of the swamp rose accordingly.
｢Big one? What are you doing?｣
[ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Sorry. I woke you up.)]
Through the flow of waves, or perhaps sensing my movement, Number 26 sent a wave. I stopped emitting heat and reached out to stroke them.
[ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Don't worry about it. Go back to sleep.)]
｢Big one, not sleepy? Then let me put you to sleep!｣
Before I could refuse, it wrapped its large body around my head.
Despite being half the size of my body, it turned into a perfect pillow without any trouble.
'This is another strange sensation.'
Until now, it had climbed onto my head, but I had never climbed onto it. Perhaps it's thanks to its body maintaining a suitably cool temperature.
｢Big one, sleep well.｣
Feeling a strange comfort, I closed my eyes.
***
The noble capitals of MegaCorp possess colonial planets scattered throughout the universe. Some planets are coveted hubs targeted by other factions, while others remain relatively unknown.
The Yujin family also holds numerous planets. This is to procure materials necessary for genetic modification and creating Hulk mutants.
Among such planets is one unnamed planet. Discovered by Akira Yujin himself during exploration, it's a location not recorded on the shared ship map of various factions.
On this unnamed planet lies the nest of the Gallagons, creatures of the universe.
This frozen planet, chilled to the bone, was the sole supplier of Gallagon genetics.
However, as there is no such thing as a benevolent Gallagon, one had to risk their life to enter this planet. It was so harsh that out of a hundred who entered, only one might barely come out alive.
Danger and value.
Due to these two reasons, only a handful within the Yujin family knew the location of this planet.
And Si-hyun Yujin was one of the few who knew the location.
Because the source of the Gallagon genetics embedded in her body was from here, she couldn't remain ignorant.
But her knowledge of how dangerous this place was wasn't solely because of the genetics.
She was the only noble capital besides Akira Yujin himself to have set foot on this planet.
This was because she had stolen Gallagon eggs and captured a mutant Blue Gallagon on this planet.
At that time, her faction suffered tremendous losses from pursuing Gallagons. Although she's a clone now, she retained most of the original's memories. She knew well how terrifying enraged Gallagons could be, so she hadn't even dreamt of returning here.
Yet here she was now, setting foot once more on the planet where Gallagons dwell.
'…They've been here.'
Si-hyun, clad in her specialized reinforcement suit, White Maiden, rose slowly from the snow. Those who had been hiding around her heard her words and began to rise one by one.
To prevent the power source from freezing instantly, her subordinates wore specially made reinforcement suits instead of regular ones.
These suits, painted white like snow and thick like space suits, were equipment used for exploring volcanic or icy planets. Apart from that, communication devices and the weapons they held were all specially treated to prevent freezing.
Like everyone else, Laila Chemblin, painted white with camouflage paint on the outside, approached Si-hyun.
"These gallagons seem quite diligent. Do they usually roam around so frequently?"
"No, they don't. They mostly stay in their nests unless they're hunting."
Earlier, all crew members had to hastily hide themselves due to the sudden appearance of a White Gallagon on the planet.
"It's fortunate that the flagship didn't land. Otherwise, the exploration might have ended abruptly three days ago."
The day Si-hyun's flagship arrived at the unnamed planet was three days ago. As Laila mentioned, instead of landing on the planet in her flagship, Si-hyun came through a transport ship. The decision was deliberate because a giant flagship would easily be detected by Gallagons and could potentially require external support. However, considering the situation, that decision proved to be advantageous.
"That's strange. They don't usually roam around like this."
While Gallagons are the top predators on this planet, there are many other creatures with comparable strength. White Gallagons have the duty to protect their nests from formidable adversaries. It was clearly unusual for them to venture outside the nest without hunting.
"Captain Neiren, you said the artifact was buried in those mountains?"
"Yes, but let me see the map for a moment."
Si-hyun handed a small computer pad to Neiren, a middle-aged cultist with yak horns. Once the former captain of the Imperial Battleship 'Judicator of Damocles 08', he lost his ship and subordinates to the 'Devil with Three Heads'. He came to this planet seeking revenge. Despite his cultist appearance, he adeptly marked a red dot on the map at a certain point in the mountains.
"It's buried here."
"It's quite a distance."
"Still, it'll be quicker to go this way."
"I don't recommend going in that direction. Another White Gallagon might fly in."
Both Neiren and Laila had valid points.
"What about crossing over to the plain? It shouldn't take too long. It might be safer."
"That's difficult. There are dangerous monsters in the 'Frozen Plateau' area."
Laila pointed with her mechanical hand to an underground space where very powerful beasts reside. When they came here before, over a hundred of their soldiers perished because of that creature. It wasn't fighting Gallagons that caused their deaths, but rather an unexpected entity that resulted in the loss of many subordinates.
"If that creature is still alive, going in that direction would be risky."
"Can't be helped. Even if it takes a detour, I'll choose a safer route."
Time wasn't on Si-hyun's side, but if she failed here, the trust of the people aboard her flagship would diminish, especially Min-seok.
'His trust is still needed.'
She glanced ahead after closing the map. Beyond the horizon was a black barrier. One of the peaks of those mountains held the artifact she was seeking.
-x-X-x-
Early in the morning, I ascended to the nest with The Mother of the Sky. Upon the ice lump placed at the entrance of the nest, a considerable weight of snow had accumulated overnight. After clearing the ice lump, I waited briefly in the icy corridor.
The Mother of the Sky exited before me. Her superior vision allowed her to inspect the skies for any potential dangers.
After observing for a few minutes, she signaled safety by wagging her tail.
Clearing the snow and ice, the landscape appeared unchanged from yesterday.
The only difference was that the biting snowstorm had ceased. Thanks to this, The Mother of the Sky seemed less cold than yesterday.
｢Still, we can't linger.｣
Glancing upwards, the sky was still filled with clouds. We had to hurry as we didn't know when snow and hail might pour again.
[ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (What was it that we needed to acquire?)]
｢Winter Walker, the heart of Ice Horror.｣
Winter Walker and Ice Horror. Both are creatures that inhabit icy planets or the polar regions of terrestrial planets.
Adhai knew about both creatures, resembling animals. He had seen Winter Walker himself, and Ice Horror was described by another Gallagon.
'Both are fortunate to be on this planet, but…'
Besides the challenging condition of the cold environment, the specifications of both creatures were formidable. Among them, Ice Horror was particularly powerful.
[ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (It won't be easy.)]
"Yeah. Winter Walker might be manageable, but Ice Horror is the problem."
She was right. Ice Horror was one of the most dangerous predators in extreme cold.
Though considered weaker than Sea Demons or Black Gallagons who were treated as raid bosses, Ice Horror was evaluated as a formidable foe due to its unique traits and superior stats. I had failed to defeat it in the game several times.
'But we are four.'
A combination of a Gallagon, a Sea Demon, an Amorph, and a Wolf griffin. With our powers combined, we should be able to overcome it.
'I have to hunt Ice Horror anyway.'
In my case, to become an ascendent, I needed to hunt 30 powerful creatures classified as APEX. Since Ice Horror was classified as an APEX, hunting it would be beneficial.
[ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ (The problem is where to find it.)]
｢Yeah. It doesn't roam on the surface..｣
Ice Horror doesn't search for prey but instead lays traps within its territory to hunt creatures that enter. In simple terms, it's like a spider living in extreme cold.
'Although they look very different.'
Anyway, it takes quite some time to find Ice Horror.
It can dwell wherever there's prey but is a master of concealment. I'm quite good at hiding, but I can't compare to Ice Horror. Unless I approach its territory and traps very cautiously, it's impossible to confirm its presence.
[ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (If it's nearby, it's worth trying to lure it.)]
If it's not around, I might have to wander far.
[ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZ (Ice Horror takes time, so let's find Winter Walker first.)]
｢Good idea.｣
The Mother of the Sky also came to the same conclusion as me.
Unlike Ice Horror, Winter Walker is a creature that actively hunts for preys. Adhai said it's quite common, so we should be able to find it quickly.
With our goal set, we ran across the snow-covered plain. As I crawled through the ice and snow piles, a golden wolf griffin raced beside me.
Her mane and the sapphire pendant around her neck swayed wildly in the winter wind. Beneath her mane, muscles previously hidden under fur rippled. Despite her densely packed muscles not being for show, her movements were remarkably agile.
She moved swiftly like the wind, but I was no pushover either. Her six combat arms turned legs shattered the ice while dragging my body forward. From behind, her tail and bulky claws scattered the snow with each step.
Compared to her graceful movement through the air, mine was noisy, but I matched her speed.
Thanks to our rapid movement akin to a high-speed train, we approached the mountains quickly.
The black mountains towering above the white horizon felt like structures erected by an unknown presence. The nature that created those mountains also seemed transcendent, so my feeling might be accurate.
Amidst the breathtaking scenery, the scent of life was strong in the black mountains. Tall trees grew densely on the hardened soil.
Perhaps because they grew in the extreme cold of the polar region, the trees all looked similar. Their trunks were long and slender, but as they ascended, their branches spread intricately. These branches intertwined with those of other trees, firmly anchoring them together.
They seemed to have adapted to the frequent gales blowing in this environment.
[ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ (We need to be careful.])
If there's a forest, it means there's abundant prey. It's a good environment for Winter Walkers and Gallagons to roam and hunt.
I slowed down and focused on my auxiliary organs while moving. The Mother of the Sky beside me also walked cautiously, keeping an eye on our surroundings.
Her four auxiliary organs under her jaw twitched, brushing the ground as they flickered. Each time they did, events happening around us flowed into my brain through the organs.
'From the vibrations felt on the ground, there are probably two or three enemies.'
Although the intensity of the vibrations suggests a considerable distance, there was something peculiar. The vibrations seemed to intertwine and then separate repeatedly.
What could this mean?
'A fight.'
I lifted my head from the ground.
As long as movements of creatures presumed to be our targets are felt in the forest, we must move quietly from now on. Instead of using vocal organs, I summoned The Mother of the Sky using the monster's tentacles.
｢There's a fight ahead, right?｣
[ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (it's a bit far)]
｢We should check it out, right?｣
Judging from the vibrations, both are terrestrial animals. If it were a Gallagon, with its ability to fly, vibrations would have been sporadic.
The Mother of the Sky and I cautiously moved along with the vibrations.
As we approached the epicenter, we heard the sounds of trees breaking in the distance and the roar of beasts.
The low sound, similar to a tiger's growl, was the sound of Winter Walker. It's fighting its prey.
Hearing the sound, we stopped moving. If we approached further, the noise of my movement would be heard from the other side.
｢I'll go up and check from above.｣
The Mother of the Sky ascended the tree with a graceful movement.
The trees here aren't sturdy enough for me to climb. I placed my auxiliary organs on the ground again and listened to the sounds and vibrations of the enemies.
'The enemies are small and agile.'
In size, they're roughly similar to The Mother of the Sky, and their legs…
'Between eight and nine.'
As far as I know, there are no creatures with eight legs inhabiting ice planets. Maybe if they had hundreds of legs or no legs at all, but…
'Could it be a species I'm not aware of?'
At that moment, The Mother of the Sky, having finished scouting, leaped down from the tree.
[ZZZ (Did you see?)]
｢One side is a Winter Walker. The other one is…｣
She hesitated for a moment before continuing.
｢It seems to be a Screamer.｣
[ZZZ (What?)]
Why would a machine monster from Star Union like a Screamer be here? If what she said is true, then this place would be Star Union territory.
｢How many ships of Star Union have been swallowed? I haven't seen any route leading here.｣
[ZZZ ZZZZ (Are you sure its a screamer?)]
｢To be honest, I'm not sure. A creature resembling a Screamer is fighting with Winter Walker.｣
It seems we need to see it for ourselves. She and I moved again.
As we ran through the trees, we found Winter Walker and a mysterious monster.
No, let me correct that. It was Winter Walker's corpse with its head severed, and a monster resembling a Screamer.
[Hostile creature eliminated.]
The creature standing on the battlefield turned into a bloody mess. Even for someone like me who has played the game for a long time, it was the first time seeing such a monster.
'Is that a Screamer?'
With a human head and torso attached to tubes and metal mechanical devices, with a tail, and six legs made of metal skeleton, it crawled on the ground. Though it shared similarities with a Screamer, there were many differences.
In short, it looked less mechanical than the original.
While a typical Screamer had tubes plugged into its mouth, generating sound through the mechanical devices, this creature had its mouth exposed, enabling it to produce sounds on its own without the rough breathing caused by the tubes.
Except for its pale face reminiscent of a human, from the back of the head, it had a biomechanical appearance with tissues, tubes, and mechanical devices intertwined. Unlike a Screamer where the distinction between machine and flesh was clear, this creature didn't have such separation in its body.
The eight legs extending from its body were also the same. Legs with a red muscle and tube entwined form on a metal skeleton. Beneath the slender and thin legs were three pointed alloy claws instead of feet.
If the original Screamer reminded one of a scorpion, the creature in front of me was a mix-breed spider, a hybrid spider created by mixing biological and mechanical components.
'It's not just intimidating in appearance.'
Winter Walker, with its head severed, fell victim to it. If it killed Winter Walker in a one-on-one battle, it means it possesses considerable skills.
However, it didn't seem to have completely overwhelmed its opponent.
Two of its legs seemed heavily damaged, with their metal skeletons heavily distorted, making them appear immobile. And around its torso, where machinery and flesh were entangled, it bled dark red blood.
[Insufficient energy. Initiating self-supply.]
Muttering so, the creature opened its mouth wide and hastily began tearing into Winter Walker.
'No need to wait any longer.'
We can confirm the creature's identity firsthand. That's the way of the Apex, after all.
'It's all the same once you're eaten.'
The Mother of the Sky read my expression and leaped up into the trees. Simultaneously, I dashed towards the creature feasting on Winter Walker.
[Enemy detected.]
The creature, focused on its meal, didn't even look at me but anticipated my ambush. Without missing a beat, it leaped into the air from its feeding position. Like a speeding truck, I crashed into the corpse of Winter Walker.
[Hostile creature identified. Subdue…]
The spider-like monster, about to shout something from above, couldn't fulfill its intention.
The Mother of the Sky burst through the trees and struck the creature's head with her forelegs. The creature's neck twisted grotesquely as it narrowly evaded the attack.
｢Tsk!｣
Regretting the failed strike, The Mother of the Sky landed. Despite dodging all of our attacks, the spider monster landed on the ground and immediately distanced itself.
｢Isn't it a Screamer?｣
If it were a Screamer, it would have immediately attacked once it noticed us. However, the creature didn't do so. It seemed to be considering exploring, tilting its head to glare at both of us.
[Hostile creature 2 confirmed. Left creature. 89% match with Special Target Type C. Right creature…]
The creature that looked at me widened its red eyes. It glared at me with eyes resembling blood and menacingly twitched its head.
[75% match with set target. Main controller 'Pira Eleven' command delay. Autonomous judgment required. Subdue target.]
The creature muttered incomprehensible words and crouched down, assuming a combat stance.
I, too, prepared to attack while keeping my eyes on its movements.
I don't know if the creature is truly a Screamer or a new type of weapon. However, if it is a Screamer, the situation becomes grave.
'The possibility of a Screamer roaming alone here is close to zero.'
There's a high chance that the creature has reinforcements somewhere I'm not aware of. Since there's a Gallagon nest on this planet, they might have come as a small elite force, but I can't afford to be complacent.
'I need to deal with this quickly and assess the situation.'
As soon as I had that thought, the creature leaped at me like lightning.
-x-X-x-
The day they escaped from the T&C Special Trade Hub.
After Amorph went into evolution, Number 26 and Adhai each spent their own time. Number 26 was diligently practicing the conversational techniques Amorph had taught it. Communicating through appendages called fingers was a very unfamiliar conversational method for it.
Its peers communicated using the colors of their bodies. Among its kind, Number 26 was the only one with appendages resembling fingers. While it had been using these appendages more and more lately, it was still inexperienced.
But Number 26 didn't give up. It was a much more complex and progressive creature than Amorph thought. Its mental horizons had expanded immeasurably since being trapped in the smelly courage of the past. While receiving more attention and affection from Amorph was nice, It wanted more than that.
It started to dream of a future. A future where it led its people alongside the big one. To achieve that goal, it had to be able to communicate with the big one.
While Number 26 worked hard for its dreams, what was Adhai doing?
Adhai was lying on its side, trimming scales with her wings spread out. She quickly grasped the conversational techniques Amorph had taught her.
Perhaps it was only natural for someone as smart and physically advantaged as her to do so. However, because she finished so quickly, she found herself with a lot of waiting time, so she was trimming scales to alleviate boredom.
｢Little adult｣ ｢Me｣ ｢Curious.｣
"..."
｢Little adult｣ ｢Little adult｣ ｢Little adult｣ ｢Little adult｣ ｢Little adult｣ ｢Little adult｣ ｢Little adult｣ ｢Little adult.｣
Adhai kept sending thought waves. If Number 26 had been a human, it might have been injured by Adhai's continuous thought wave attacks, but as a sea demon, it suffered no major harm.
Of course, it was unavoidable for it to feel annoyed by her whining while it was studying.
｢What's wrong?｣
｢Adult｣ ｢Body｣ ｢Growth｣ ｢Fast｣ ｢Fast｣ ｢Fast.｣
｢Yeah. Sometimes the big one grows this fast.｣
｢Wonder｣ ｢Me｣ ｢Adult｣ ｢Growth｣ ｢Envy.｣
Saying that, Adhai looked down at her own torso. Instead of the white scales she wished for, beautiful green scales adorned her body.
With no blemishes, the smooth and gleaming green scales resembled emerald jewels. Perhaps if intelligent beings saw Adhai's scales, they would be amazed at their beauty.
However, to Number 26, body color was only a means of communication and held no significance.
｢Me｣ ｢Want｣ ｢Scales｣ ｢White.｣
｢Is it good to be white?｣
｢Good!｣ ｢White｣ ｢Strength｣ ｢Coolness｣ ｢Charm｣ ｢Overflow.｣
Adhai stood up, spreading her wings and straightening her waist. At the same time, she curled her tail upward, forming a snail shell shape.
This posture was considered a love making posture among the Gallagons, but no one here knew that fact.
｢White｣ ｢Growth｣ ｢Advantage｣ ｢One｣ ｢More. ｢Exist.｣
｢What's wrong?｣
｢Me｣,Adult｣ ｢Know｣ ｢Possible.｣
"..."
While Adhai spoke excitedly, Number 26 felt a strange sensation upon hearing her words. It wondered if this little one would give up even if it told her it was impossible.
｢You have to lay eggs after you grow big.｣
｢Understand｣ ｢Me｣ ｢Growth｣ ｢Need｣ ｢White｣ ｢Coolness｣ ｢Adult｣ ｢Me｣ ｢Fascinated.｣
Despite saying she understood, she didn't seem to at all.
As Number 26 watched Adhai pondering what the most captivating posture might be, a question suddenly arose in its mind. Did Adhai really know how babies were made?
｢Little one.｣
｢?｣
｢How do you make babies?｣
Upon hearing this, Adhai lifted her head high. It seemed like she was showing off that she knew while the adult didn't.
Although Number 26 didn't particularly like her attitude, Number 26 held its tongue. The big one was quite different from its kind in her eyes. If the big one's method of "making babies" was different from what Number 26 thought, it could pose problems when leading its kind in the future.
｢I｣ ｢Speak｣ ｢Little adult｣ ｢Listen.｣
｢Yeah.｣
｢Male｣ ｢Above｣ ｢Female｣ ｢Below.｣ ｢Embrace｣ ｢Egg｣ ｢Born.｣
｢Huh?｣
｢Female｣ ｢Egg｣ ｢Laid.｣
However, Adhai's explanation was very different from what Number 26 had in mind. No, to be precise, it was absurd.
｢Hugging makes babies?｣
｢Correct.｣
｢Then why don't I have one if I've been sleeping next to the big one?｣
｢?｣
\I've slept with the big one too.\
Adhai had also slept with the big one, but she didn't feel the need to point out that fact.
Anyway, perhaps Number 26's comment was sharp enough, as Adhai couldn't properly answer.
｢Then is there something else?｣
｢Little adult｣ ｢Guess｣ ｢Me｣ ｢Agree｣ ｢Impossible.｣
｢Little ones don't know either.｣
In the end, Adhai didn't provide an answer.
Number 26 vaguely knew that the big one was an exceptional being. So she thought it wouldn't be easy to make a baby, and it seemed her speculation was correct.
But just when she thought it was over, Adhai called out to Number 26 again.
｢Little adult｣ ｢Baby｣ ｢Know how to make?｣
｢Me? I don't really know.｣
｢Little adult｣ ｢Don't know｣ ｢Don't know｣ ｢Don't know.｣
Adhai fluttered her wings.
Although the two species had completely different ways of communication, having spent a long time together, they could roughly understand each other's gestures. That was a gesture the little one made when teasing someone. Number 26 felt an urge to smack her in that moment but restrained itself.
In such situations, the one who strikes first loses. So it decided to show off instead of resorting to violence.
｢I actually know very well.｣
｢Really?｣
｢Really. I know it very well.｣
｢Explain,｣ ｢Please.｣
Number 26 squeezed its brain hidden inside her body and recalled the baby-making process it had seen among its kin before.
｢First, you inflate the body to make it big.｣
｢Body｣ ｢Big?｣
Actually, Number 26 didn't know much about making babies either. Despite being the leader of the group, it had never made babies with anyone. It only considered itself responsible for protecting its family and never thought about continuing any productive activities.
｢Yeah. And then embrace and intertwine with each other.｣
｢Embrace｣ ｢Intertwine?｣
Adhai seemed suspicious of whether there was any difference in what she said. She was a lot more perceptive than Number 26, seeing through whatever it was saying.
As Number 26 thought there was something more to say, something came to its mind.
｢Use your thin tentacles to touch your friend's tentacles.｣
｢Tentacles?｣
｢Yeah. Touch with your tentacles.｣
In reality, it had used its thin tentacles to soothe the big one when he was on the verge of going crazy. At that moment, it had experienced a mysterious connection to the big one's heart.
A sublime yet strangely unsettling sensation. It felt like doing something forbidden. Number 26 could never forget it.
Listening to its words with a nonchalant attitude, Adhai nodded her head, deeming it reasonable.
｢Tentacles｣ ｢Affection｣ ｢Display.｣
｢Is that so?｣
｢Kin｣ ｢Night｣ ｢Flight ｣ ｢Mid Air｣ ｢Tentacles｣ ｢Embrace.｣
Adhai had seen kin secretly engaging in affectionate acts with their tentacles. And it seemed very pleasurable.
[TL/N- kin is when Adhai refers to both Number 26 and Amorph.]
However, that wasn't the answer Adhai wanted. What she wanted was not the process but the result. No matter how pleasurable the act, it was useless without eggs.
｢Tentacles｣ ｢Embrace｣ ｢Kin｣ ｢Eggs｣ ｢Failure.｣
｢Is that so?｣
｢Tentacles｣ ｢Length｣ ｢Many｣ ｢Coolness｣ ｢Acknowledgment｣ ｢Eggs｣ ｢Relationship｣ ｢Irrelevant..｣
As Adhai said, having long and many tentacles was certainly attractive, but it was a separate issue from making babies.
In the end, the conversation came back to square one.
Despite Number 26 and Adhai vigorously debating and racking their brains, they ultimately found no answers.
｢I need a friend who knows how to make babies.｣
｢Agreed.｣
The conclusion reached after the profound debate between the sea demon and the Gallagon was simple.
That is, obtaining necessary information from a third party.
It was the result of applying the hunting laws learned so far with Amorph.
When dealing with an unknown enemy, the first step is to gather information.
Amorph, who had become an unknown entity regarding baby-making in the end.
As both a big one and an adult, he slept while evolving, knowing nothing.
-x-X-x-
Blood flowed from the corpse, staining the snow-covered ground. Amidst the whispering of leaves, a spider-like monster sprinted forward.
The target of the creature's pursuit was me, specifically my neck area. Somehow, it pinpointed my weakness in an instant.
Six corroding tentacles sprang forth from my back. Originally sturdy, these tentacles had become even stronger thanks to the synthetic scales covering them, spreading wide to grasp the creature in an attempt to restrain it.
The creature was roughly 4 meters in size, slightly smaller than the Mother of the Sky. While I wasn't sure of its strength, it wasn't enough to overcome the disadvantage posed by its size.
The collision between the creature's six tentacles and its eight legs was accompanied by a loud clatter of metal, echoing through the forest.
The creature, considerably smaller than my corroding tentacles, twisted its legs to evade their attacks. Stained red by the black metal skeleton, it swiftly crawled onto my tentacles.
In an instant, the spider-like monster had reached my back. Its forelegs aimed for the tentacles of the creature on my neck.
｢Watch out!｣
I timed my movements carefully, shaking my body vigorously. The three mechanical claws at the end of its metal legs sliced through the air.
As the creature's posture faltered, I initiated a counterattack. I twisted my tail upward, swinging the pincers at its end forcefully. The creature hastily raised its two damaged forelegs to defend itself.
Unfortunately, my pincers were strongest at the head segment, along with my carapace. A heavy cracking sound, akin to being struck by a colossal hammer, resonated as the creature's body floated in the air.
Then, the Mother of the Sky leaped onto my combat arm. With all her might, she struck the creature's right legs with her two forelegs.
"Argh!"
Despite being struck by the pincers while airborne, the spider-like monster managed to twist its body somehow. Unfortunately, her attack only managed to crush one of its legs.
As they crossed paths and landed in separate areas, unlike the graceful landing of the Mother of the Sky, the spider-like monster sank halfway into the ground, perhaps due to its damaged legs.
｢…Tougher than expected.｣
[ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ (Seems like it)]
Her blow was heavy enough to punch holes through a battleship. Yet, the creature's legs didn't break, let alone bend.
'I guess it's not going to work.'
Originally, I had intended to confirm its identity by consuming its flesh, but it proved to be a better fighter than anticipated. Time was not on our side. It wasn't wise to prolong this any further.
I activated my reserved 'Insight' ability.
[Name: S-422
Species: Mass-produced by ■■■■
Status: Contains unidentifiable information.
Equipment: Contains unidentifiable information.]
'What?'
The information revealed by Insight was unconventional. I tried using it again to see if it would change significantly, but it remained largely the same.
'Why isn't it a player?'
This was the first time since Muriel that 'unidentifiable information' had appeared.
[Leg damage status: 'Critical'. Irreparable. Main controller 'Pira Eleven' unresponsive. Proceed with combat.]
While I was using Insight without moving, the creature, having adjusted its stance, launched another attack.
S-422 darted forward, its seven legs moving swiftly.
I twisted my body and swung my tail forward. The piled-up snow turned into a blizzard as it scattered.
The creature lowered its body to evade my attack while simultaneously twisting its two forelegs backward to rake underneath my tail. As scales and blunt claws were torn off, a sharp pain surged through me.
The corroding tentacles rushed to defend their master from the attack, but the creature leaped upward, anticipating it, dodging the assault.
My tentacles remained stuck to the ground, while the creature, airborne, faced the incoming attack from the Mother of the Sky.
Their collision, between her most potent weapon, the beak, and the creature's forelegs, produced a sound akin to a fierce struggle rather than mere metal clashing against flesh.
[Left leg number 2 damaged.]
"Ugh!"
The creature's metal legs were sliced as if by a blade. However, the Mother of the Sky wasn't unscathed either, as the creature's claw had cut into her side.
I crawled forward, using my combat arm to shield her while opening my mouth wide towards the creature. The acidic fungal spores located near my throat were activated, and soon, green acidic spores were ejected from my mouth.
[Acid substance detected.]
Still airborne, the creature twisted its body forcibly to avoid the incoming liquid.
However, this time, the creature couldn't completely dodge. Greedy fungal spores that touched its body began to gnaw at the metal skeleton.
[External skeleton damage 88%.]
The creature, upon landing, attempted to glance at its legs, but it was too late. Its legs were already irreversibly damaged.
Unable to stand any longer, the creature collapsed onto the snowy ground.
'It's over.'
The creature's main weapon had been its legs all along. It seemed like it had no other weapons.
'No, it might still have something left.'
Since I couldn't see its equipment, it might have hidden weapons. I cautiously approached the creature.
[Main controller 'Pira Eleven' communication failure confirmed. Loss recorded, database registration complete.]
The creature, with its head pressed against the ground, muttered something incessantly.
[Incineration, incineration protocol activated. 20, 19….]
'Incineration protocol?'
[18, 17, 16….]
'Could it be?'
With a foreboding feeling, I quickly grabbed the Mother of the Sky. Crawling frantically, we dashed out of the courtyard.
｢W-why suddenly? What's happening?｣
As I suddenly embraced her and ran, she shot me a bewildered look, mixed with a hint of panic. She seemed unaware of why I was acting this way, but there wasn't time to explain everything.
Instead of explaining, I continued to knock down trees and kept crawling forward.
After about ten seconds, I felt a tremendous amount of energy and heat emanating from behind me. Along with it came an overwhelming roar that made my auxiliary organs tremble.
The Mother of the Sky, glancing back at me, widened her eyes.
｢What in the world! Run faster!｣
[ZZZ (I know!)]
I could already feel an abnormal amount of heat around my back and tail. Just by looking at it, one could tell that the amount of energy released from the creature's body surpassed dozens of plasma launchers.
'I might not die, but….'
The Mother of the Sky clinging to my combat arm might. I, being robust, might only lose my carapace, arms, and legs, but she would be incinerated without a trace.
Thanks to the three combat arms, blunt claws, and corroding tentacles, I was able to barely escape the explosion range in a frenzy.
As we watched the forest ablaze, the Mother of the Sky murmured.
｢Did such a creature exist in the game?｣
[ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZZ (There wasn't in my memory.)]
｢Really?｣
In games, there were beings that used self-destruct as a weapon. The standard play in Megacorp involved planting bombs in expendable henchmen's bodies and initiating a self-destruct charge, and there were also creatures in the wild that exploded to inflict damage.
However, there had never been a creature capable of causing such a powerful explosion.
'Could it be the remnants of the Space Hound I encountered before?'
Suddenly, the memory of the Hulk Mutant, who had implanted a bomb in one of its two hearts, causing me trouble, came to mind. At the time, I was weak, but the opponent, being a Hulk Mutant, was remarkably intelligent, leaving a lasting impression.
I quickly shook my head.
'No, the likelihood of it being him is low. It's too sudden for it to appear in a place like this.'
Rather, it might be more reasonable to associate it with the new Screamer encountered on the Star Union warship before arriving here. It seemed to have a strong connection with it.
'It's excessively overpowered for a Screamer.'
Moreover, when I checked with Insight earlier, I saw it.
The word 'mass-produced' was displayed in the creature's species name. There were two things I could infer from this word.
First, that the creature was created by someone. And….
'It's not just one creature.'
There might be dozens, hundreds, or even more monsters resembling the Screamer somewhere on this planet.
'…Let's worry about that later.'
Right now, we need to get out of here. If such a massive fire erupts in this snowy and icy planet, the Gallagons are sure to come flying.
Or perhaps the creature's companions.
'Hunting is off the table for today.'
We can never come back to this area near the forest. The Gallagons will continue to patrol the area.
We must try approaching the mountains from another direction, once we're confident it's safe.
As we escaped the burning forest, we faced a new problem.
'Crossing the snowfield is risky.'
A black flame blooms on a world filled with white. Everyone would surely take notice of this, but crossing the ice plain without any cover would be too risky.
If my scales were white, it wouldn't be a problem, but since they are closer to blackish-purple, they would be easily visible even from a great distance in current conditions where the snowstorm isn't blowing.
However, using 'Organic Evolution' to transform into an 'Intelligent Weakling' and reducing my size isn't a favorable option.
We might end up fighting unknown monsters and Gallagons. If that happens, one of the special states that can be transformed through Organic Evolution, 'King of Monsters,' will be the trump card, so we should save it.
"We need to go underground."
Underneath the ice, there's a vast underground space.
The nest I made isn't completely enclosed by walls; it's an open space in both directions. I'm not sure if the underground space below here is connected to the nest, but it would be safer than walking on the snow.
[ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (We're going to dig through the floor. Keep an eye out for anyone coming.)]
｢Got it.｣
Leaving the surveillance to the Mother of the Sky, I repeated what I did yesterday. I heated my body with thermal discharge and broke the ice with my combat arms and tail.
｢We should hurry.｣
[ZZZ (What?)]
"Dozens of Gallagons are coming this way."
Upon receiving the unwelcome news from above, I increased my speed. Utilizing my corrosion tentacles and split jaws, I hastily dug through the ice.
Thanks to my last effort, I managed to complete the tunnel connecting to the underground space. I hurriedly crawled out and sent the Mother of the Sky down first.
Now, the Gallagons were close enough to be visible even to my eyes. Unfortunately, they were focused on the burning forest. They picked up the corpses of the burned creatures and flew away somewhere.
While the enemies were preoccupied elsewhere, I quickly concealed the entrance of the newly made tunnel.
With all the work done, I crawled down into the ice cave. Luckily, I didn't sense anyone catching on.
｢No one's onto us?｣
[ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (I don't know).]
Arriving in the underground space, I quickly left with the Mother of the Sky.
'Darn.'
I didn't expect to be in such a difficult situation because of some mass-produced monster.
'I don't know who it is, but….'
The one who has irritated me to this extent is truly rare. It's as annoying as being interfered with by the Amorph Hunters back in the day.
'Let's find out who.'
I've never forgiven those who interfered with my evolution until now. In the game, I retaliated against the Amorph Hunters with every means available to me.
The one who created the ugly spider-like creature. They will follow the same path as the Amorph Hunters.
A huge underground complex spanning hundreds of meters.
Enjoying the cozy darkness while minding his own business, 'It' sensed a vibration. It was clear that some fool dared to act up on his territory.
Such incidents have been frequent lately.
In this vicinity, unfamiliar 'small creatures' often swarmed towards him, and the colorful snakes flying in the sky suddenly roamed around his territory.
Having lived countless long years, 'It' didn't like to move his body much due to his lazy nature. He only roughly crushed or swallowed the 'small creatures' attacking him, while leaving the flying snakes alone.
However, today's vibration was different from previous occasions. Strong vibrations shook 'It's' nest.
When those arrogant creatures threatened his home, 'It' thought.
If these fools continue to trample his territory like this, wouldn't even the flying snakes in the sky start to ridicule him? It meant that 'It' had become weak enough to not even protect his own home.
'It' may be lazy, but not stupid. In this harsh world, the only future left for the weak is death.
So, 'It' decided to show the invaders that the king of this underground was still alive and well.
Determined to move for once, 'It' tracked the scent of the enemies with his elongated antennae. Despite being old, the tips of his sharp antennae still caught the faint scent of two lines.
After the significant vibration, invaders entered 'It's' territory. The scent of the two beasts that had entered 'It's' territory reached his antennae.
Having found his prey, all that remained was to seek retribution. 'It,' who filled the underground complex hundreds of meters, stretched his coiled body.
It was time for the hunt after a long time.
-x-X-x-
The world spread out beneath the cold ice was a maze. The underground space I had chosen as my nest was extensively carved out in both directions, but this place surpassed it. It seemed like a massive mining drill had roamed around, piercing passageways here and there.
The Mother of the Sky and I constructed the ice maze underground. Thanks to my auxiliary apparatus, I could navigate through the darkness without losing my way. Even so, The Mother of the Sky moved effortlessly without a single speck of light in this place.
[ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Which way should we go?)]
｢It seems like the right path might be faster.｣
[ZZZ (Really?)]
Her pumpkin-colored irises glimmered subtly like lanterns.
Among the mythical creatures capable of transformation, some stored light in their bodies to emit it as needed. Thanks to this ability, a griffin like her could utilize its exceptional vision actively regardless of day or night.
Like adventurers exploring unknown realms relying on a single torch, we continued towards where our nest lay.
'Something feels off.'
It had been over ten minutes since we entered, yet we hadn't encountered any creatures. It was surprising considering that even in such underground spaces, there should be inhabitants.
Furthermore, as we ventured deeper, it became evident that this vast space wasn't naturally formed.
The Mother of the Sky shared my thoughts.
｢I think we might have entered the wrong place.｣
She pointed to a section of the wall with her forepaw.
Traces, each three meters long, were sporadically scattered. All of them seemed to have been there for quite some time, with ice and dirt embedded in them. But I understood what these traces meant.
What this place was.
This was a space created by a being larger than any creature I had ever encountered.
Comparatively inferior to the Black Gallagon but possessing formidable power.
[ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ (It's the domain of the Ice Horror.)]
｢And it's at least an adult.｣
As the Ice Horror ages, it undergoes moulting, growing significantly larger and its carapace harder with each moult. In the game, due to balance reasons, there's a limit called 'adulthood' to prevent endless growth. But this was reality. If it continued to grow even after reaching adulthood, one could hardly imagine its size.
'Those marks look like claw prints.'
If the claws were of a size similar to those marks, the creature's size would be at least 150 meters. It would be beyond measure, truly.
｢Do you sense anything around?｣
[ZZ (No)]
It was natural, but I had checked with the auxiliary organ before descending. I only felt the chilly air; there was no unusual movement detected.
I inspected the walls with the auxiliary apparatus, but it was the same as before.
However, if this was the Ice Horror's domain, we couldn't afford to let our guard down.
Due to its immense size, it won't hunt far from its territory. It designates a certain area as its hunting ground and targets prey that enters it.
'It's been several tens of minutes since we entered. It probably knows about our intrusion.'
Even from dozens of kilometers away, it can detect scent or vibrations. If there's no nest, it's considerably more adept than me, capable of detecting enemies within a radius of a few kilometers.
By now, it's probably diligently coming to capture us.
Moreover, the Ice Horror, despite its massive size, can minimize its movement sound. This is because it reduces the sound generated by the movement of fur on its legs and body as much as possible.
If you hear its sound, it's likely already too late.
Even if we were to detect its pursuit in advance and flee, this is its home ground. Escape would only buy us time.
Rather than fleeing, we need to prepare for how to fight it.
'Let's consider our options.'
First, let's look at the advantages the enemy possesses. I don't know much about it.
While I'm well acquainted with the Ice Horror, I can't be certain how much stronger the creature here is.
In the game, the Ice Horror's size doesn't exceed 100 meters, but the one here is over 150 meters. Even if my body size is currently 28 meters, it would increase if I were to use the 'Symbol of Hunt' but compared to the enemy, it's still significantly smaller.
Unlike the Sea Demon or Black Gallagon, which have extraordinary abilities to manipulate enemies, the Ice Horror doesn't possess any special abilities. Instead, it relies on superior physical abilities to overpower its opponents.
Undoubtedly, it must be superior to me in strength and defense.
Moreover, its detection abilities surpass mine. The Ice Horror can detect various factors such as vibrations, sounds, and smells with the antennae on its head.
I'll quickly be discovered no matter where I hide, so the strategy of initiating combat by surprise as usual won't work here.
An opponent with detection abilities superior even to mine. And the uncertainty of how powerful the Ice Horror is. These are the creature's advantages.
'On the other hand, I have the same advantages.'
The Ice Horror also lacks information about me. It probably regards us as nothing more than Winter Walkers who accidentally fell into the underground.
'The creature doesn't know what I'm capable of.'
If it's a creature that deviates from the norm, then I'm the same.
Even if my combat ability is inferior to the creature's, I have characteristics that can compensate for it.
Furthermore, while I don't know about the creature, I do know about the "Ice Horror." Its habits, strengths, weaknesses—every piece of information is in my head.
Various traits and experiences from hunting numerous Ice Horrors. These are my weapons.
Having organized my thoughts, I summoned The Mother of the Sky.
[ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ (Let's fight here.)]
｢Would it be okay with just the two of us?｣
I shook my head at The Mother of the Sky's question.
Of course not.
Facing the creature directly would be overwhelming for me alone.
"If the creature is indeed over 150 meters in size, it will be difficult to break its carapace."
Even the thinnest carapace would be several meters thick. Unless it has a body reinforced by 'Symbol of Hunt' or destructive traits like 'Divine Spectre' it won't cause any harm at all.
So here, I need help from others, not just me—Number 26 and Adhai, The Mother of the Sky, everyone's assistance is needed.
'The footsteps echoed, punctuating the silence. My time to stall. Fetch them from the nest.'
｢You're baiting them?｣
[ZZZ (Yes.)]
'Well, it's true the creature usually goes for big prey, but it's not always the case. I might be the one attacked first.'
A valid point.
The Ice Horror generally prefers large prey, but it's not without exceptions. Being a cunning species, it sometimes behaves unusually.
For instance, it might first subdue a seemingly weaker opponent before targeting larger prey. If the creature acts like this here, The Mother of the Sky will be in significant danger.
[ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ Daoist Phofbs Don't worry)]
While the creature may be cunning, we're not fools either.
｢Hey, it's your turn.｣
The thick carapace and the circular mucous membranes located where it meets the waist tore apart with a sticky sound. Small goblins from the nest poured out.
It was the activation of the infection fusion trait, Tooth Fairy Nest.
Compared to my size, now at 28 meters, the murder fleas, still small, lined up in front of me. The Mother of the Sky, who understood my intentions, nodded.
"…I see."
[Go right when you reach the fork.]
"You didn't need to explain?"
The griffin chuckled and met my eyes.
Though she didn't say anything, it was easy to guess what she was thinking.
As I nodded slightly, she dashed forward.
Having sent her off, I glanced at the Tooth Fairies.
"There are things you need to do."
The beings imbued with my will began to find their respective tasks and move. Seeing them scatter, I too relocated.
The battleground suitable for fighting the creature is nearby.
The thing, crawling across the ice with countless legs, halted in its tracks.
There was a change in the vibrations coming from afar.
The large and small vibrations that had been moving together suddenly split and moved in different directions.
It knew what this meant. Among packs of prey, there are cases where the adults become bait to protect the weaker offspring. This case might be similar.
So the answer was clear.
It aimed for the small vibrations. Since the offspring are slow and weak, it's much more effective to consume them first and then go for the stronger adults later.
It attempted to follow the usual path of chasing the small vibrations, but its antennae detected a new vibration.
From the large vibration, a multitude of tiny vibrations was emanating.
Such an opponent had never been encountered before, so it was slightly taken aback. Was this time the small vibrations acting as bait? Or had it detected something incorrectly?
It pressed its long, dual antennae against the ground. Amidst the cool sensation of soil and ice, mixed with faint tremors and sounds, the vibrations traveled up the antennae.
The creature judged it as the sound of footsteps produced by small creatures. That meant there were offspring around the large vibrations.
The reason for the change in the vibrations felt earlier was probably because there were creatures carrying offspring. It was rare, but such creatures did exist, so the creature understood.
SSSS SSSSSS SS SSS
Retrieving its antennae, the creature set off again.
The destination was where numerous vibrations converged.
The creature, with hundreds of legs, diligently maneuvered through the icy maze, sliding as it went. Despite its immense size, it moved very quietly. If any other creature had entered, they might have mistaken the wind for a hole opening somewhere in the underground space.
In this brief time of movement, the creature's senses caught prey. Before it, there were ten offspring.
Probably some of the creature's offspring had fallen behind in their escape.
Even though they were offspring, they were quite aggressive creatures. The fallen ones rushed towards the creature appearing in the passage.
The creature widened its mouth, extending its four jaws wide open and drove its head down where the offspring were. The four jaws exposed the frozen ground like a digger. The offspring, mixed with soil, rocks, and ice, headed straight for the creature's insides.
Given the vast difference in size between the quantum beings, this was a feasible method, as there was an immense gap.
Having quickly dispatched ten offspring, the creature continued forward.
Its antennae spoke to it. Once it passed through the upcoming passage, it would reach the gathering place. There, the large vibrations and the offspring were converging.
Thinking of the imminent feast, saliva dripped from its jaws. Eager to quickly fill its insides with fresh meat, the creature raced through the ice cavern.
In a flash, the creature passed through the passage and extended its head into the wide chamber. The distance to the "large vibration" was close enough for the creature to discern with its antennae.
'Caught you.'
A small sound carried through the air.
The creature didn't know what the sound meant. But the immense energy emanating from the entity that made the sound, it knew well. It knew what consequences that bundle of energy would bring.
The creature attempted to retreat behind the passage quickly, but due to its physique, it wasn't easy. As its body got stuck in the passage, the creature's worst fear became a reality.
An enormous amount of energy from within the chamber engulfed the creature's carapace. Not only the carapace but its insides too were engulfed in flames. As the energy flames subsided, rocks and ice collapsed on the creature.
'It's going according to plan.'
In the chamber where I was, there were several ice passages, but deliberately, I left ten Tooth Fairies in that passage.
Since the Ice Horror, which targets offspring or weaker ones first, would undoubtedly crush the Tooth Fairies, I was sure of it. And as soon as I felt the Tooth Fairies' deaths, I was prepared to unleash a psychic blast.
The reason for using Psychic Breath instead of God's Club was simple. It was because using God's Club would likely cause the entire ice plateau above to collapse.
If that happened, not just me but the others would be crushed immediately. The Gallant Galgons flying around outside would quickly realize that something was beneath them.
For this reason, after God's Club, the next most powerful long-range attack, Psychic Breath, was used.
"Moreover, the enemy's size made it easier to hit."
I estimated the creature's length to be 150m, but it seemed even larger just from its head. Because its body was so large, despite detecting my attack early, the creature couldn't evade in the passage.
"First, I took the initiative."
Although the passage the creature had passed through completely collapsed, the Ice Horror wasn't weak enough to die from such an attack. Perhaps the part of its carapace directly hit by Psychic Breath was damaged.
It will soon emerge and attack me.
\But before that.\
To face a monster, one must first become a monster.
I activated the \Symbol of Hunt\..
-x-X-x-
The primary characteristic I acquired first in this world is being a 'Perfect organism'. As implied by the name, it's the ability to transform my physical capabilities and types into states suitable for survival.
Moreover, a complete organic entity has a special effect: the 'Symbol of Hunt' mode. When activated, my body optimizes for combat, evolving into the ultimate biological weapon. Although it has a cooldown of 24 hours for a duration of 20 minutes, it exhibits exceptional effects that overshadow such drawbacks. Just like now.
Gurgle
Though my eyes are gone, my senses are sharper than ever. Every detail of the surroundings, be it this corridor buried in ice horror or the common ground I stand on, feels vividly alive as if seen directly through my eyes. Thanks to this, I'm fully aware of the changes happening within my body.
Bones, muscles, scales, exoskeletons—everything, optimizing my body to hunt stronger foes and acquire more prey. As the cranial exoskeleton grows rapidly, the burden on my body shifts slightly forward. The six horns, useful in battles against formidable enemies, have grown into even more menacing forms.
The elongated, slender skull, reminiscent of theropod dinosaurs, has undergone even more extreme changes since the application of the 'organic evolution' trait. The lower jaw, splitting into two branches, has developed an impression resembling a metal protective gear beneath the jaw.
Along with the changes to the jaw, bone exoskeletons have been attached to the auxiliary organs beneath it, transforming into ivory-like structures similar to an elephant's tusks. Despite their considerable size and weight, the developed jaw allows them to move without much difficulty.
'The auxiliary organs retain their original functions.'
Changes around the head aren't limited to just the auxiliary organs. The most significant change is the relocation of the five facial apertures previously attached to the back to the head. Similar to ancient warriors adorning their bodies with their enemies' skulls, the five pallid faces are attached to the rear exoskeleton like trophies.
As the head becomes heavier, the neck has also evolved to support it. The tentacles of the monster, now enlarged, are covered with hair-like protrusions on the enlarged neck. In its normal state, the neck wasn't prominently displayed due to the tentacles and rear exoskeleton, resembling more of a spike. But now, it's thick and elongated like that of a crocodile or a Komodo dragon.
Moreover, the section from the neck to the back, akin to the nuchal hump in humans, is rugged. Subsequently, bone blade arms protrude from the exoskeletal orifices, serving as symbols of the manifestation of hunting.
The arms at the ends of the biological scythes are the sharpest and most lethal weapons I possess. They can easily cut through even tough materials like battleship hulls or superior reinforced armor.
Other parts have also transformed into forms useful for combat. The blunt claws previously on the lower body and tail have undergone significant changes. They now resemble joints with sharp claws at the ends, akin to spider legs.
While there have been changes such as the growth of new parts, the weight has actually become lighter than before. Previously, when I used the manifestation of hunting, I felt bulkier and heavier, but now, it's a sensation of being thin yet light.
However, being lighter doesn't mean a decrease in durability or strength. Rather, due to densely interwoven scales, the defense has likely increased compared to before.
'Moreover, it seems more flexible than before.'
I flexed and bent my combat arms, which have grown more than twice their original length before I started using the manifestation of hunting. The scales moved smoothly like waves following the movements of muscles and bones.
Apart from becoming lighter and more flexible overall, the overall length has increased. Based on the detection by auxiliary organs, the length up to the tail is roughly between 35m to 40m. So, compared to the previous 28m, the body has extended by nearly 10m.
'Even so, compared to over there, it's still small.'
The opponent is a colossal creature that easily surpasses 100 meters. Despite being only a third of its size…
'Size isn't everything.'
After completing my inspection, I raised my head, tapping four bone blades—or rather, the transformed auxiliary organs. As soon as I lifted my head, the piles of ice and rocks in the passage began to shake, as if timing their movement with mine. The trembling of the debris intensified, as if representing the emotions of the entity beneath.
Moments later, as if erupting in an explosion, the rocks and ice fragments scattered, revealing the Ice Horror.
To simplify the appearance of the Ice Horror, it looked like a fusion of the monster from the classic monster movie series "The B***** of B******" and the body of a centipede.
[PR/N- Ok so even I don't understand the name of the movie if you guys know please tell me while I will research on my own (I need a raise damn)]
Its head boasted four incredibly sturdy jaws capable of tearing apart even battleships, filled with spikes and teeth for grasping and suction. At the rear of the jaw were degenerated eyes and two long, thin antennae.
The antennae, reminiscent of a chain whip, are the detection organs the creature possesses. Unlike me, whose auxiliary organs are vulnerable, the antennae of the creature are quite robust, as evident from their appearance.
Below the head, it had segments similar to a centipede, with sharp claws on each segment, legs, and a white carapace attached. The difference from a centipede lies in the extreme hardness of the carapace.
'It can ignore most attacks even without special defensive abilities.'
Indeed, even when hit head-on by my psychic breath, the creature's carapace only showed slight scratches.
Ssssss
Seemingly infuriated by the unexpected ambush, the creature hissed roughly. Its antennae on the head swayed like threatening cobras.
The space was so vast that even with two colossal monsters inside, there was plenty of room to spare. I deliberately chose this place to fight the creature.
While the Ice Horror's size might suggest an advantage in confined spaces, the reality is different. The creature effortlessly burrowed through the ground and ice, a disadvantage for me in anything but an open space.
Sssss
As the creature emitted its threatening sounds, it turned its head toward me. Its four jaws spread wide, and from within, a stream of transparent venom was shot towards me.
By highly concentrating the nerve toxin I often used against biological foes and mixing it with hallucinogens, it became the Ice Horror's venom. In simple terms, it's a toxin that paralyzes or induces hallucinations in its victims.
But I didn't evade. Instead, I rushed towards the creature, which stood still, shooting venom.
'Venom is useless against me.'
Thanks to the 'Complete Immunity' trait I received as a special reward, I am completely immune to toxins and diseases. No matter how potent the venom the creature shoots, it won't affect me.
[TL/N- Well this is irritating the author does not even give chapter hints or mentions of how and when he gets the trait… or he directly mentions after 100 chapters…]
[PR/N- Your problem…]
I leaped over the ice on the ground while being hit by the venom.
Ssssss?
The fact that its venom had no effect seemed to confuse the creature.
'That's to be expected.'
Around here, there are only a few species, including the Black Gallagon, that are immune to the creature's venom.
While the creature hesitated, I charged with speed and momentum, thrusting my horns into its head. The frozen underground chamber shook violently, and the creature staggered backward.
Grrrrrr
Until now, no enemy had survived being impaled by my horns, but this time was an exception. The Ice Horror's defense was truly formidable. Despite my strike, only scratches from the horns remained on its carapace.
Ssssss
The creature, pushed back, emitted a sinister sound as it launched its counterattack. Its body, several times longer than mine, writhed like a snake, attempting to ensnare me.
I grabbed the creature's body with my six combat arms. In that state, I swung my tail forcefully. The pincer at the end of my tail turned into a heavy mace, striking the carapace around its abdomen.
Sssss!
The agonizing screams of the Ice Horror mixed with its roar, echoing through the underground chamber. Looking at the area hit by my tail, it was riddled with cracks like a spider web. It must have hurt, given the force of the impact.
Sssssss!
Enraged, the creature, jaws wide open, charged at me. Its plan was likely to swallow me whole. The swirling tentacles resembling whirlpools around my back peeled away, and the corroded tentacles hidden within all sprang out.
The tentacles, spread wide, firmly grasped the creature's jaws.
And thus, the struggle began.
Grrrrrrrr
Sssss!
It was a showdown between two colossal creatures spanning tens to hundreds of meters. As a result, the ice walls surrounding the underground space shook violently. Icicles hanging from the ceiling fell, and the ground I stood on cracked and split deeply.
'Such immense strength.'
Despite using the manifestation of hunting, the creature's strength was truly immense. While my six corroded tentacles firmly held its jaws, they couldn't last long. The creature began to press me down with its weight.
'But…'
I anticipated this much.
I slightly eased the force on the corroded tentacles. As the creature exerted pressure on me, its body suddenly lurched towards me.
At the moment the creature's gaping mouth aimed to swallow me whole…
One of my bone blade arms from my back flew like lightning and pierced into the creature's mouth.
Sssss?!
Startled by the sudden pain, the Ice Horror recoiled. It shook violently, and with a creature of its size causing havoc, not only the chamber but the entire underground space trembled as if in an earthquake.
Sssssss!
Then, the creature closed its jaws, gripping me, and violently shook its head, hurling me away. My body flew through the air and slammed hard against the wall.
'Ugh!'
[Pain nullification Activated!]
Although it had been a while since the 'Pain nullification' trait was activated, there was no time to be distracted by the pain. Quickly, I withdrew my body from where it was embedded in the wall and dodged to the side. As I evaded, the creature's head slammed into the wall beside me.
With a paper-thin margin of escape, I slashed at the carapace around its abdomen with the four bone blade arms under its jaw.
These bone blades were made of the same material as the blades on my back. In other words, they were extremely hard and sharp.
With the sound of cracking walnut shells, four wounds appeared on the creature's carapace.
Clearly annoyed by my evasion and counterattack, the creature twisted its body to ram into me. I hastily raised my combat arms to block, but the result wasn't favorable. Two of my arms that collided with the creature's carapace were completely shattered, and my body was slammed against the wall again.
'Ugh!'
With no cunning maneuvers, just simple movements, but faster and stronger than me, it wasn't easy to deal with.
The one whose arm I had broken rushed at me again, pulling its head from the wall. Anticipating this, I opened my mouth towards its eyes. The acid gland located near my esophagus shot out its vile acidic liquid.
The creature, hit by the green liquid, paused its attack momentarily. Taking advantage of its hesitation, I quickly withdrew, putting some distance between us.
Ssssss
The creature shook its head irritably, as if annoyed. Perhaps it was boasting a carapace with a hardness surpassing that of diamonds, as the acidic fungus couldn't penetrate it at all.
The creature, having spat out the green liquid, growled at me. It had begun to be wary of me as new abilities continued to emerge from me.
While the creature was on guard, I examined the area I had been targeting all along. I swung my pincers and slashed with the blade under its jaw, finding plenty of cracks in its ventral carapace.
'Preparation is complete.'
There was only one thing left to do.
Wait.
Sssss
Grrrrrrrr
The creature, still fixating its tendrils on me while being cautious, moved again. Like a train speeding on rails, it charged towards me on the icy ground.
Just before colliding with the creature, I exerted force on the tail tip and the legs in my lower body. My body shot upwards like a spring towards the ceiling, and the surface of my pincers grazed the creature's jaw as we passed each other.
Having narrowly avoided the Ice Horror's charge, I landed on its back. Utilizing my remaining combat arms and corroded tentacles, I firmly grasped the creature's carapace, engaging in a rodeo-like struggle.
Sssssss!
The creature, displeased with me being on its back, writhed violently. However, I was already firmly attached to its body. It couldn't shake me off as easily as it intended.
While the creature thrashed about, I swung the blade under its jaw and the arms on its back relentlessly. With each swishing sound of the wind, more wounds appeared on the creature's carapace.
Saaaaa!
Finally, unable to bear it any longer, the creature roared loudly and leaped up. Just like I had leaped upward, the creature also exerted force on its lower body and legs, lifting its body.
With a single leap, the creature soared up to the ceiling of this huge underground space. As its back collided with the ceiling, I, sandwiched in between, found myself in a situation akin to being caught in a vice.
Grukk!
Crack!
The immense pain coursing through my entire body inadvertently caused me to lose strength. The rear carapace, due to the impact, had broken at the back, and the carapaces on the back and chest had also been severely cracked.
'One more hit, and it's dangerous!'
As the creature slammed into the ceiling and landed on the ground, I leaped off its back. The creature, as if asking where I was fleeing, opened its jaws wide and snapped at my tail.
But as soon as it bit down, the spikes and teeth inside its jaws pierced into my body. It was as if it intended to swallow me whole.
Instead of striking its jaws, I activated the thorn-barbed tail hidden inside my pincers. The pincers opened slightly, and the thorns inside poured out into the creature's throat.
Ssssss!
Just like me, to a creature wielding neurotoxins as weapons, a venom attack was meaningless. However, anyone would feel discomfort with fish spines lodged in their throat.
The Ice Horror spat me out with a growl. The tip of my tail, which had entered the creature's body for a short time, was severely damaged.
'Definitely strong.'
This creature boasted tremendous combat power, fearing it might not be an Apex organism. If it were a Black Gallagon or a Sea Demon, I would already have suffered two or three fatal injuries.
Saaaah!
The creature roared shortly and swiftly moved its legs, approaching me. This time, instead of avoiding, I rushed towards the creature.
Like males locking horns to establish dominance, we charged towards each other's heads. On the icy arena, the Ice Horror's jaws collided with my head carapace.
Tremendous pressure pushed against my head. The head carapace, rarely damaged until now, shattered, and three out of six horns broke.
'If we fall here, it's over.'
I exerted all my strength in my lower body and tail to somehow not give way.
As the two mighty forces struggled to overpower each other, the ground could no longer bear it and collapsed.
At that moment, I sharply lowered my head. As we struggled, the creature, unable to hit my head due to my movement, inevitably directed its force towards it.
The creature's jaws smashed my rear head carapace and swept over my dorsal carapace. Two of my arm carapaces broke completely due to the impact.
Indescribable pain pierced through my entire being. I almost lost consciousness from the excruciating agony, but thanks to the Pain Reduction trait, I managed to endure somehow.
'Now!'
I twisted my head to the left. Instantly, the bone blade under my jaw stood upright.
The target of the bone blade was the creature's abdomen passing swiftly above me. Two of the blades on my right side protruded forward, slashing the creature's abdomen heavily.
Ssss!
'Broken… Ugh!'
Before I could even revel in the success of the attack, I tumbled onto the collapsed floor. The enraged creature swung its tail at me.
'This…!'
I tried to get up again, but the creature's jaws were right next to me.
A huge jaw, split into four parts, spread open like a flower. As the jaws closed, my head and upper body would be finished.
Trying to minimize the damage as much as possible, I crouched down, but the creature suddenly stopped moving. It was a fleeting moment, but enough for me to dodge.
As I withdrew my upper body, the creature's jaws closed immediately. I realized the familiar movements of a being on the verge of collapse on the other side of the partially collapsed passage.
'It's here!'
Then, rocks and ice fragments that filled the passage floated up. They turned into projectiles and rained down on the Ice Horror's carapace and tail.
Sssss!
Startled by the sudden attack, the creature turned its head abruptly.
Beyond the darkened passage, three creatures revealed themselves.
｢…As expected. You held on well.｣
A griffin wolf holding the Divine spectre.
｢Big Adult｣｢Large｣ ｢Snake｣ ｢Very｣ ｢Giant｣
A Green Gallagon expressing astonishment at the sight of me and the Ice Horror.
｢This naughty little creature! Can't just let someone bother the big baby in peace! I'll give it a good scolding! A lot of it!｣
And there it was, the 10-meter-tall Sea Demon, menacingly waving its numerous tentacles and fins.
After what seemed like an eternity, reinforcements had finally arrived.