The creature that was rubbing its head against my body suddenly stopped and lifted its head. Then she called out to me through telepathy.
[ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Are you hurt?)]
｢No｣ ｢Pain｣ ｢None｣ ｢At all.｣
I wondered if she had an injury I hadn't noticed, but it didn't seem to be the case. The creature hesitated and backed away from me.
Just a moment ago, she was excited to see me, but now she seemed awkward. Not only her behavior but also the telepathic waves radiating from her body were filled with negative emotions.
'Why is she acting like this all of a sudden?'
As if to answer my question, she sent another telepathic wave.
｢I｣ ｢Apologize｣ ｢Must.｣
[ZZZZ ZZ (Apologize?)]
｢I｣ ｢Followed｣ ｢Ham Ort｣ ｢Abandoned｣ ｢Adult｣ ｢Sorry.｣
She was referring to when she followed Ham Ort when we first encountered it. Although I understood her intentions, she seemed to have been weighing on her heavily.
｢I｣ ｢Want｣ ｢Adult｣ ｢Tribe｣ ｢Again｣ ｢Please.｣
The creature lowered her front legs and bowed her head, displaying an unprecedented level of respect.
'Hmm.'
From the start, I had intended to bring her back. Therefore, I hadn't thought much of meeting her again.
However, the creature saw things differently. Adhai had been exiled from her tribe once for being small and weak.
'Come to think of it, even before we came here, she was overly cautious.'
After guiding me to the nest, she asked if she could stay with me. I had assumed she would, but she seemed to worry about being unnecessary and having to leave.
Even now, she seemed burdened by the prospect of returning after leaving us to survive.
'…This isn't something that can be solved with words.'
I know well how past pains can torment one's life. The body lives in the present, but the mind remains trapped in the past.
So, I decided to do what I had most wanted when I was struggling.
I gently embraced the creature with my winged arms and held her close.
[ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZ (You're back, that's all that matters.)]
｢Adult｣ ｢Forgive｣ ｢me?｣
The creature trembled as she spoke, and I shook my head.
[ZZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZZ (You did nothing wrong, there's nothing to forgive.)]
｢I｣ ｢Abandon｣ ｢Tribe｣ ｢Wrong.｣
[ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ (You chose to protect me. If anything, I was the one who was wrong.)]
｢No!｣ ｢Adult｣ ｢No｣ ｢Wrong.｣
[ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Let's agree that neither of us was wrong.)]
｢I｣ ｢Again｣ ｢Tribe｣ ｢Possible?｣
[ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ (You never really left.)]
I sent this telepathic wave with firm resolution. Understanding my sincerity, Adhai finally relaxed.
I lightly stroked her head with my small arms. she turned her head as if she felt tickled and looked at my winged arms.
｢Wings｣ ｢First｣ ｢See.｣
[ZZZZ ZZZ (Really?)]
When we first met, I did have wings, but not in their current form. They used to cover my back like a beetle's, and I could barely use them due to the transcendence penalty.
｢Cool!｣ ｢Cool!｣ ｢Very｣ ｢Cool!｣
Adhai tapped me with its front paw and nodded energetically. She seemed very pleased with my transformation.
[ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZZ (Let's go back. The others must be waiting.)]
｢Little Adult｣ ｢Ugly friend｣ ｢Weak child｣ ｢Present?｣
[ZZZ (Yes)]
Upon hearing my words, Adhai climbed out of my embrace and onto my back.
I carried her back to where I had left the others.
｢What happened?｣
As soon as she saw me with Adhai, the Mother of the Sky asked.
[ZZZZ (I was deceived.)]
｢It seems so.｣
｢Little One!｣
[Confirmed as Sub-controller 2 'Little One.' Nice to meet you again.]
｢Everyone｣ ｢Happy.｣
Gallagon, by design, doesn't lie. As a race modeled after legendary and mythical dragons, they value contracts highly. If she weren't for this characteristic, I wouldn't have trusted Adhai when we made our contract.
That's why I believed what Ham Ort said, never imagining that Gallagon could lie.
'…Still, I guess I should be glad that Adhai is safe.'
In this case, it's fortunate that it was a lie. Despite my annoyance at being deceived by Gallagon.
Just then, having greeted everyone, Adhai trotted up to me.
｢Sky King｣ ｢Adult｣ ｢Hunt?｣
[ZZZ (Sky King?)]
It pointed to the burst Sky Whale with the tip of its horn.
'Why did they come here?'
While Ham Ort might be okay, Adhai was not well-suited to fighting Sky Whales. She couldn't use its psychic abilities and was too small to land any effective hits.
Conversely, it would be very easy for a Sky Whale to kill Adhai. Whether she fired a photon cannon or struck with its wings, Adhai would be done for.
'Adhai must know this.'
As if to answer my question, Adhai sent another telepathic wave.
｢Ham Ort｣ ｢Said｣ ｢Sky King｣ ｢Needed｣ ｢I｣ ｢Said｣ ｢Adult｣ ｢Already｣ ｢Hunted｣ ｢Sky King｣ ｢Hunt｣ ｢Useless.｣
Adhai proudly spread its wings. It seemed Ham Ort intended to target the Sky Whale, but then realized I was already here and Adhai told her that hunting the Sky Whale was impossible.
[ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZ (I understand needing the Sky King, but why did you come together?)]
｢Ham Ort｣ ｢Said｣ ｢I｣ ｢Must eat｣ ｢Sky King｣ ｢Savior｣ ｢Condition.｣
[ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ (Must eat the Sky King?)]
Now that I looked closer, Adhai's wings were different. Earlier, I was only checking for injuries, but now I could see clearly.
'There are spots on her wings.'
Near the membrane of the wings, there were white spots, like grains of sand. She seemed more natural than a sign of illness, like freckles.
'White?'
I suddenly wondered if Ham Ort was trying to evolve Adhai.
The growth conditions of Gallagons are unknown. I don't know how Adhai grew. When she molted the green scales, I was not with her.
｢Ham Ort｣ ｢Brought｣ ｢Snake King｣ ｢Adult｣ ｢Hunted｣ ｢Snake King｣ ｢Much｣ ｢Bigger.｣
'Snake King? That I gave? That can't be…oh.'
I remembered. The first apex creature I hunted on this planet was the Ice Horror. Considering its size and appearance, it could indeed be called a Snake King.
'Does Adhai need to eat apex creatures to become a White Gallagon?'
When Blue Gallagons, which can be considered hatchlings, absorb the natural psychic power from their nest, they grow. Once they become Green Gallagons, they start hunting wild animals in earnest.
On planets where dragon nests are located, there are usually many apex creatures, so they inevitably have to fight them.
'Apex creatures are generally very nutritious.'
Ice Horrors, Glacier Fiends, Crystalwings. All of them are beings that possess immense energy. By hunting and consuming these monsters, they accumulate that energy in their bodies and grow into White Gallagons.
'Although this isn't entirely accurate…'
If my hypothesis is correct, there should be more White Gallagons in the dragon's nest. Since there aren't, it's likely there are other factors I'm unaware of.
'Maybe Adhai is unique.'
Ham Ort took Adhai because she was special. She said she was necessary for fighting the Black Gallagon group.
Of course, it's unclear why such an important creature was handed over to me now.
[ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZ (Will you change if you eat the Sky King?)]
｢Ham Ort｣ ｢Said｣ ｢Change｣ ｢Possible｣ ｢I｣ ｢Absorbed｣ ｢Snake King｣ ｢Changed｣ ｢Stronger.｣
Adhai pointed to the spots on its wings with its front paw.
'Testing she would confirm it.'
If what she says is true, Adhai should change after eating Sky Whale meat.
'In any case, Ham Ort and the Gallagons are under my control.'
Adhai knows where they are. If there's anything uncertain, I can just capture and question them.
I approached the Sky Whale's corpse.
I activated the Symbol of the hunt amid the pool of blood and fragments of entrails scattered on the ground.
My head transformed, with a carapace covering my eyes. My back split open, revealing skeletal scythe arms, and small claws resembling centipede legs sprouted all over my lower body.
These were changes that occurred when I previously used the Symbol of the hunt, but there were two differences.
Under the influence of the berserker synapse, which drastically reduces energy consumption, my body didn't elongate as much as before. My current body length was approximately 45 meters. Considering that I usually grow at least twice as large when using the Symbol of the hunt, this was an exceptionally small size.
'I don't have any complaints about the size. It might actually be an advantage.'
The other difference was the red patterns on my arms and wing membranes.
The red patterns, spreading like blood vessels from the inside of my combat arms and wing arms, followed the muscle fibers and extended to the wing membranes. The original black wings were cool, but they had their own charm.
｢Adult｣ ｢Wings｣ ｢Cool.｣
[ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Yes, they are.)]
After completing my transformation, I bit into the head of the Sky Whale, its contents spilling out. The others approached and started tasting the space whale's meat as well.
***
It's unique to Odd Grad's group, but original Gallagons value their young highly. Gallagons don't lay many eggs, and even the few they do lay often don't hatch due to harsh environments.
The few eggs that do hatch are precious, so the whole group is desperate to protect them.
Those not out hunting, whether female or male, guard the nest and the young. Since most members are usually out hunting, it's safe to say that the majority protect the nest.
There are only two situations where hatchlings in a nest guarded by the entire group would die: when a predator like a Sky Whale appears, or when a stronger group of Gallagons attacks.
And now,
The group following Ham Ort was on the verge of annihilation.
The forest surrounding the nest was ablaze as if it had been bombarded. Amid the roaring flames, Gallagons with various colored scales lay fallen.
The cave serving as the hatchling Gallagons' sanctuary had its ceiling completely torn off. Inside, the bodies of Gallagons were piled up like a mountain.
Most of the bodies were those of blue hatchlings.
Ham Ort, the leader of the nest, was watching the horrific scene. It wasn't because she was ruthless or lacked affection for her kin.
Her body was in a state of utter devastation. Her beautiful white wings, once like a bride's dress, were completely torn off, and only a third of her tail remained.
Three of her four brilliant horns were broken, and the tendrils around her mouth were half torn off. it was hard to find any part of her body that wasn't broken.
The one who had reduced her to such a pitiful state floated leisurely in the sky.
A being with six horns and jet-black scales like the night sky, overwhelmingly larger than Ham Ort.
The most powerful Gallagon on this planet, the Great Odd Grad.
He was holding a Blue Gallagon in his front paw, sucking its bodily fluids.
Ripping apart the hatchling with his purple tendrils, it was a sight Ham Ort had tried desperately to prevent.
After devouring the hatchling in an instant, he tossed the shriveled corpse in front of her.
｢Evil Odd Grad!｣ ｢Killed the young kin!｣ ｢Killed kin who were once part of the group!｣
Ham Ort's psychic wave, filled with rage at the brutal death of the young ones, erupted. Although the two factions were at war, there was no reason to kill the ignorant hatchlings.
Moreover, Odd Grad's faction was split in two due to rebellion. Killing all of them when even one more could be useful was not a wise decision.
｢The young kin are innocent! Cruelty!｣
In response to her primal expression of fury, Odd Grad calmly replied.
｢Odd Grad speaks, Rebels' seeds must be eradicated.｣
｢!｣
｢However.｣
He landed on top of Ham Ort. The sheer weight of his larger body crushed her, causing her to scream.
｢I do not kill rebels.｣
｢Ham Ort will not surrender!｣
｢It does not matter. Rebels need much more pain.｣
He methodically broke her legs with his front paw. She couldn't even scream in extreme pain, only letting out faint groans.
｢Odd Grad commands, Take the rebel away.｣
｢Yes.｣
｢Hunt down the escaped rebels. Kill them.｣
Other Gallagons grabbed Ham Ort, having heard his psychic command.
As she was dragged away in a daze, she thought.
At least the last hope hadn't been snuffed out.
She hadn't told the daughter of the comet, but for her to become the savior, one sacrifice remained.
That was to devour the white kin.
Initially, she had planned to take responsibility and make the sacrifice herself. But Odd Grad's assault on her nest had disrupted that plan.
Therefore, she had no choice but to entrust the task to another kin, Nel Germa.
Nel Germa was also a female who had risen against Odd Grad. Even in a dire situation, she had acted promptly upon hearing Ham Ort's request.
While Nel Germa drew their attention, another white kin led the surviving kin to safety. She did this to complete the final mission given to her.
Now, there was nothing left for Ham Ort to do.
All that remained was to see what choice her daughter would make.
Throughout, she had made only wrong choices. There were only two decisions she could confidently say were right.
But she hoped her daughter would make wise choices. She continued to pray until she lost consciousness.
-x-X-x-
Skywhales are highly sought-after prey.
Their wings, capable of firing photon cannons, are used as materials for MegaCorp's weapons, while their internal organs, including the gallbladder, are utilized in cult rituals and ceremonies. The oil accumulated within their bodies is said to be useful for cleaning delicate mechanical devices such as android brains and spaceship computers.
Because they are beneficial to various species, there were always battles wherever skywhales were found.
Moreover, skywhales are a delectable prey for species that gain strength from traits like Amorphs and outspacers. This is because skywhales rarely have useless traits. Abilities like space flight, being a giant creature, and generating photon cannons are all extremely useful.
Could 'energy absorption' be considered useless? In fact, even this trait has its uses under the right conditions. If one has already acquired enough useful traits and no longer needs new ones, the advantages outweigh the drawbacks.
In any case, to every player, skywhales are considered Christmas presents. The trait I gained from it was not energy absorption. It wasn't space flight or being a giant creature either.
'I never expected that trait to appear.'
In fact, I had hoped for the skywhale's photon cannon attack trait, but this trait isn't bad either. Thanks to it, I was able to fuse it with my existing traits and gain a new fusion trait.
However, what astonished me right now wasn't the trait.
The Gallagon, whose ecology is mostly shrouded in mystery, was currently molting in front of me.
While eating the skywhale, Adhai's scales began to fall off bit by bit. At first, I thought she was just shedding old scales, but that wasn't the case.
What started as a few scales soon came off in chunks, and new scales as white as milk emerged underneath.
That was the beginning.
She stopped eating and spread her two folded wings to cover her body. Although her large wings enveloped her body, I could deduce her transformation through the sounds I heard. The popping sound, like popcorn, was the sound of bones growing.
The wings also grew larger to match the body's growth. The green scales on the outside of the wings shed like dead skin, falling to the ground, and new scales took their place. The thin film turned pure white, as if painted with white paint.
｢Big baby, little baby is acting strange.｣
[ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ (She's growing.)]
｢Is little baby getting bigger too?｣
[ZZZ (Yes.)]
｢Energy of little baby is rapidly increasing.｣
Under everyone's watch, Adhai continued to grow. Despite the sudden increase in size, she didn't seem to feel much pain.
'Is a special substance being secreted?'
In the case of Amorphs, their entire body is restructured in a cocooned state. Thanks to the mucus filling the cocoon, they don't feel pain from the transformation.
Perhaps the Gallagon undergoes a similar process, secreting substances in its brain that alleviate growth pains.
'First a sea demon, now a Gallagon.'
I must be the only player to have directly witnessed the growth of two rare creatures.
And how much time had passed?
A white lotus blossomed atop the bloody water. The transformation was complete.
The newly molted wings looked like perfectly crafted diamonds. They were both beautiful and undoubtedly strong.
'Is this evolution?'
Adhai had grown into a white Gallagon. Although her body length had significantly increased, it was still much smaller than her kind. Even compared to white Gallagons of the same stage, and regular green Gallagons, it was smaller.
'4 meters? It's slightly smaller than Mother of the Sky.'
Her body length was shorter than the griffin form of Mother of the Sky. Of course, if you included the wings, Adhai would be larger.
'She feels quite different because of the body change.'
Previously, she had a delicate appearance like a young deer. However, now she seems much more mature. Perhaps the head remained the same size while the body grew larger.
Below her small head, her slender body had developed appropriate muscles, giving her a healthy look. Her long neck and waist now had a more elegant curve. The tail, which used to be plump and cute, had become fuller and more magnificent due to its lengthening. This gave it a pleasingly full look, not an overweight appearance.
Despite her small size, she boasted a beauty far surpassing other Gallagons. Additionally, she had a feature unseen in her kin.
'She has red markings on its body?'
From the crown of its head to her neck, back, the inner membranes of her wings, and down to her tail, there were vivid red wave-like patterns. The striking red markings on the spotless white scales made it stand out.
'A special being.'
The savior mentioned by Ham Ort, and the red markings, brought something to mind.
The ultimate creature, the Red Gallagon, the mightiest of all Gallagons, standing shoulder to shoulder with the Vortex One.
'…No, it can't be.'
I have hunted a Red Gallagon in the game. In my memory, it was larger than any other Gallagon. Adhai, with her naturally small build, couldn't be more different.
Moreover, the Red Gallagon, like the Vortex One, used a unique energy system. Adhai before us had no such mysterious power.
'And in this state, She couldn't beat the Black Gallagon.'
No matter how special or White Gallagon she is, the size difference is too vast. Plus, Adhai had just grown and hadn't learned how to fight as a White Gallagon. I don't know what Ham Ort was thinking, but her fighting Odd Grad now would be a sure defeat.
'I'll have to ask her directly.'
To understand Adhai, capturing Ham Ort seemed necessary.
｢I never thought I'd see a Gallagon's growth in person.｣
｢Little baby, you've changed somehow.｣
[Comparing registered sub-controller2 'Little one' with current compatibility 72%. Adjusting target features.]
Noticing our gazes, Adhai slowly folded its fully extended wings. The way she neatly folded its long wings was unmatched by other Gallagons in elegance.
It could be likened to a young bride in a wedding dress.
｢How do I look?｣
｢You look magnificent.｣
｢Yes, the little baby grew up splendidly!｣
｢Thanks.｣
Satisfied by the barrage of compliments, she emitted a wave of happy thoughts. Then, she looked at me. Meeting her amethyst eyes, I sent a wave back.
[ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ (You've grown splendidly.)]
｢Really?｣
[ZZ (Yes.)]
Pleased with my praise, she wagged the tip of her tail.
With Adhai's growth complete, we finished processing the remaining Skywhale meat. She consumed a lot of blood, possibly due to the energy used in her growth.
Even though the meat had lost its juices, becoming dry, it didn't matter. None of the apex creatures disappointed me, Skywhale included.
'It had a very unique taste.'
It was like a strong lemon-flavored Blue Hawaii drink turned into a firm jelly. The texture was almost like gum, making it fun to chew.
'Not exactly a meal feel, though.'
After the feast, I called Adhai. I wanted to ask for directions to the nest.
｢I know the nest's location.｣
[ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ (Good to hear.)]
While thinking everything was going smoothly, it cautiously sent a thought wave.
｢Big Baby, I have a request.｣
[ZZZZ (Hmm?)]
｢The nest has many young kin. Can you spare water-colored kin?｣
Adhai looked up at me with trembling eyes. I did not answer immediately.
'…Hmm.'
Previously, Number 26 had shown compassion for her kind multiple times. Not just towards the Bubble Amoebas, but also for PS-111, which it cared for because it smelled like its kin.
So, I thought Adhai might behave similarly someday. Despite being abandoned by her kin, Adhai, possessing delicate emotions, might develop a sense of kinship, though less intense than Number 26's.
'Blue Gallagon, huh.'
All Gallagons are classified as Apex creatures. When I first contracted with her, I intended to wipe out the entire nest.
'I never thought I would get so attached.'
Now, I hold affection, big or small, for everyone around me. No matter how many times I reflect on myself, this is undeniable. As long as it doesn't threaten my survival, I want to fulfill their requests.
However, this situation is different.
Whether to exterminate the Gallagons or not is tied to my survival. To acquire traits and meet the conditions for evolution, I must kill Gallagons.
Even if I only kill the adults to meet the evolution conditions, there's no reason to spare the young ones. There are still traits to be gained from Blue Gallagons.
Adhai has spent considerable time with me. She likely knows my thoughts. She's highly intelligent. Thus, she's probably proposed a compromise, suggesting sparing only the young while accepting the others' deaths.
From her perspective, it's a reasonable proposal. Unlike the kin who abandoned her, the newly born young are innocent.
'What if I refuse here?'
Adhai has chosen to become one of my kin. Given the contract, she wouldn't refuse my request to be led to the nest.
However, the impact would be inevitable. Exterminating the Gallagons would shatter our relationship. Not only would our relationship be ruined, but expecting her to perform in battles as she did before would be impossible.
'Which option benefits me more?'
Should I sacrifice my relationship with Adhai and kill the Gallagons?
Or should I meet the evolution conditions and spare her kin, thus honoring her request?
As I was about to make a decision after much deliberation, Adhai, who was in front of me, widened her eyes and flew up into the sky.
'What?'
In an instant, she flew so high she became a small dot. Shortly after, Number 26 came hopping over.
｢Big Baby! Bad guys are here!｣
[ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ (Bad guys?)]
｢Yes! Flapping bad guys!｣
After receiving its telepathic wave, my auxiliary organs finally reported the abnormal situation in the surroundings.
A powerful psychic power was echoing from above.
[ZZZ ZZZ ZZZ (I'll be right back.)]
｢Huh? Hey, where are you…!｣
I quickly flew up with Number 26 on my back. As I ascended, I saw what was happening above.
'Gallagons!'
The sky was clouding over again.
A white Gallagon and ten green Gallagons were battling in the gray sky above the battlefield.
***
The old black dragon, the great Odd Grad, was in a rather good mood.
He had finally removed the thorn that had long been a nuisance. The rebels who opposed him had fallen, and the ones who fled would soon be dealt with by his subordinates.
The leader of the traitors, Ham Ort, would never see the outside world again. She would be confined to a dark cave, laying eggs until her death.
At last, everything had returned to normal. Now, Odd Grad's pack would move according to the perfect order he had established.
He lay down on the glittering minerals spread across the cave floor. Just as he was about to drift into a pleasant sleep, a vision appeared before his eyes.
A black kin attacked him and slit his throat. He couldn't resist at all. All he could do was helplessly fall to the ground.
The vision ended as he crashed onto the hard floor.
Odd Grad, now fully awake, quickly got up.
｢Future vision? Why?｣
Odd Grad glimpses the future through dreams or visions. Usually, these futures appear in dreams. It's very rare for them to appear as visions like now.
A future that appears as a vision is an extremely dangerous one. Based on his experience, he only saw such future visions when death was very close.
｢Rebel. Ended. Or not?｣
There are no more kin who can grow into a black kin. The closest is Ham Ort, but she is currently trapped in a cave, dying.
As he pondered this incomprehensible situation, a subordinate hurriedly entered from outside.
｢Great Odd Grad, report.｣
｢Speak.｣
｢Black kin, discovered.｣
｢!｣
The report came from a kin with green scales.
The vision he had seen was no lie.
A foreboding death had taken one step closer to him.
——
I vigorously flapped my wings, swiftly gaining altitude. The clouds that had been torn apart by my fight with Ham Ort had already returned to their original positions.
In the midst of the snow, rain, and occasional lightning, I could see a star floating majestically.
I flew quickly to approach Adhai.
｢Big adult.｣
[ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ (What happened?)]
｢Kin.｣ ｢Chased.｣
[ZZZ (Kin?)]
｢I.｣ ｢White kin.｣ ｢Meeting.｣ ｢Ham Ort.｣ ｢Pack.｣
As she said, the Gallagon were flying this way and fighting. The White Gallagon being chased was covered in blood, while the ten Green Gallagon chasing her appeared relatively unscathed.
Even if it was Ham Ort, a distinguished Gallagon, it would be difficult for an ordinary White Gallagon to face ten of them. If left alone, she would be hunted and killed by the Green Gallagon.
｢Big adult.｣ ｢White kin.｣ ｢Has something to say.｣
[ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ (Has something to say?)]
｢Important.｣ ｢Trust.｣ ｢Request.｣
I looked at her, thinking she wanted to save her kin, but that didn't seem to be the atmosphere.
'Eating the Green Gallagon right now wouldn't be a bad idea either.'
The Symbol of the hunt had ended before I spoke with Adhai. Although the effect of predation might not appear, it wouldn't be bad to fulfill the evolution conditions.
'There are a lot of them….'
I looked around. Other than the ten, there were no additional Gallagon following.
[ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Shall we clean this up first?)]
｢Agree.｣
｢Let's beat them up!｣
I spread my wings wide and gilded towards them. Adhai, who was flying beside me, dashed ahead with a speed as fast as her mother.
In the blink of an eye, she approached the group of Green Gallagon and began to move quickly, shooting Psychic Breaths.
'Impressive.'
According to the setting, Gallagon needed to go through a series of charging processes to shoot Psychic Breaths. Because of this, they would stop their body before shooting.
The same goes for reality. Even a Gallagon with exceptional skills like Ham Ort would flinch slightly when shooting a Breath.
However, Adhai had no such drawbacks. He was firing short bursts of Psychic Breath in a rapid-fire manner while using super-acceleration.
The enemies were bewildered by the unprecedented attack style. They tried to cling to Adhai using their super-acceleration ability, but Adhai was much faster.
While Adhai drew attention, the blood-soaked White Gallagon also fought back against the enemies.
'She's fighting better than I thought, but…'
A newly grown Gallagon and a severely injured White Gallagon can't defeat ten enemies.
If the Green Gallagons used their numerical advantage to encircle Adhai, it would be hard for her to exploit her strengths. It seemed the enemies had the same thought, as they began to position themselves to surround her.
'I can't let that happen.'
Although not as fast as Adhai or Ham Ort, I could also fly fairly quickly. I quietly approached the Gallagon, hiding in the clouds.
The Green Gallagons were completely focused on the enemy in front of them. I waited for one to fly near me and then darted forward.
｢?!｣
The Green Gallagon was startled when a creature several times its size suddenly appeared from the black clouds. The corrosive tendrils on my back quickly wrapped around its body.
｢Wa…｣
It tried to send out a warning telepathically, but I was faster. I opened my long snout wide and tore into its neck.
I carried the limp body of the Gallagon with its broken neck back into the clouds.
Lagmard, a green-scaled male gallagon belonging to the pack of the great Odd Grad, was in a good mood.
He had never had a chance to mate until he matured from blue to green scales. This was because the great Odd Grad strictly controlled the males, ensuring none but himself could have a mate.
The old black Gallagon was still so powerful that even the pure white adults were wary of him. A green-scaled Gallagon like Lagmard was no match at all.
One day, while he was quietly living in resignation, an opportunity came to him.
Ham Ort, the third mate of Odd Grad and second in rank in the pack, rebelled.
Despite her young age, the powerful white queen was a female Lagmard admired. She rejected Odd Grad's domination and formed a new pack.
At that time, Lagmard had considered leaving the pack, but the fear of Odd Grad's wrath prevented him from acting on it.
His prediction was correct. Those who followed Ham Ort could not escape the black Gallagon's fury. Most were killed, and the white queen ended up laying eggs until she died.
If Lagmard could kill the remaining members of Ham Ort's pack, he might gain the opportunity he had always desired.
That was the chance to mate with the white queen he admired. His dream was gradually becoming reality.
A small nuisance had appeared and caused some trouble, but he was not worried.
Although the abnormally small white kin was very fast and strong, that was all. Their green-scaled group was much larger in number.
It might take some time, but the ones who would survive here would be the pack of Odd Grad.
Thinking this, Lagmard looked at the target. Two kin were fighting against the white kin.
Just as he was about to think they were fighting well, Lagmard sensed something was wrong.
It was because there were originally three kin assigned to fight the white kin.
｢Lagmard!｣ ｢Target!｣ ｢Surround!｣ ｢Support!｣
A kin called out to him to catch the small nuisance. Lagmard, looking at his kin, realized that something was wrong here too.
There was one missing here as well.
｢Question.｣ ｢Kin.｣ ｢Missing.｣
｢Cannot.｣ ｢Understand.｣
｢Kin.｣ ｢Ten.｣ ｢Now.｣ ｢Eight.｣
｢?｣
The kin who didn't understand him stopped in midair. Just then, lightning struck the dark sky.
The bolt of lightning spread through the clouds and across the entire sky.
In that brief moment, Lagmard saw it.
A massive shadow within the dark clouds.
As soon as the lightning passed, the owner of the shadow emerged. Countless heads grabbed one of the kin. The kin was dragged into the black clouds without even making a sound.
The cloud that swallowed one of the kin drifted away as if nothing had happened. No trace was left where the cloud had passed.
Watching this scene from start to finish, Lagmard felt an emotion he had never experienced before.
Not even when he witnessed Odd Grad's fury up close had he felt this emotion that surged through his scales.
It was a chilling sensation throughout his body—overwhelming fear.
｢Enemy!｣ ｢Enemy!｣ ｢New enemy｣ ｢Discovered!｣
Realizing this, Lagmard involuntarily screamed, his telepathic shout echoing his feelings.
Sensing Lagmard's panic, the kin quickly assumed defensive positions. The small white nuisance had disappeared. Their target was also nowhere to be seen.
Perhaps the thing in the clouds had eaten them all.
That terrifying and greedy presence was now targeting them.
At that moment, a purple flash shot out from the clouds. It was the breath of the small white nuisance. One of the green-scaled kin quickly retreated to avoid it.
｢Danger!｣ ｢Be on guard!｣
｢Up…?｣
At that moment, a dense darkness engulfed the kin trying to evade. The kin was attacked from behind and couldn't even resist. Something, with wings as black as the night sky or rather looking like darkness itself, fluttered and disappeared back into the storm clouds.
｢Black kin!｣ ｢Danger!｣
｢Odd Grad…｣ ｢Necessary!｣
｢Impossible!｣
｢Calm… Everyone… Gather… Necessary.｣
Lagmard called his panicked kin to gather. If they assembled in one place, even that hidden "something" wouldn't be able to attack them easily.
As he thought this, lightning struck again.
Unlike the previous white flash, this time it was a vivid golden lightning.
｢?｣
It wasn't just the color of the lightning that was strange. Oddly enough, the lightning, which should have branched into fine streaks, instead concentrated and flew in a specific direction.
It was heading right towards the clustered Lagmard pack.
The snake of lightning, as fast as light itself, tore through his kin.
Amidst the spray of blood and flesh, he saw the being beyond the lightning.
Sitting on the throne of the sky was the black king of death. The many heads of the king were holding onto Lagmard's kin.
Then, the white lion sent by the black kin spewed a purple flame at him.
'It was easier than I thought.'
I was slightly worried because there were ten of them, but it resolved more easily than expected. Perhaps because they were inexperienced young ones, they quickly became scared. If there had been a White Gallagon among the enemies to lead them, it wouldn't have ended so quickly.
'Maybe one or two of them escaped and went to fetch reinforcements.'
After that, an endless cycle of battle would await, with Gallagons relentlessly attacking until I died.
'I'm glad that didn't happen.'
After dealing with the green Gallagon pack, we descended back to the ground.
'A new Gallagon, huh?'
[ZZZ ZZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (The pieces of the bodies have fallen over the forest)]
｢So, you want me to collect them? Got it.｣
[I'll help too, Middle One.]
｢…Can't you change that name?｣
[Insufficient authority, conditions not met, unable to comply.]
While the Mother of the Sky and PS-111 went to the forest, a White Gallagon approached me.
｢Nel Germa. Black kin. Thanks.｣
The female White Gallagon, who introduced herself as Nel Germa, expressed her gratitude to me.
'Is she one of Ham Ort's followers?'
I looked over the injured Gallagon. Covered in wounds, she was in a very weakened state. If I attacked right now, she would die quickly.
'Should I ask about Adhai first, then deal with her?'
As I moved the monster's tentacles to ask questions, Nel Germa sent a telepathic wave first.
｢Daughter of the meteor.｣ ｢Ham Ort.｣ ｢Message.｣ ｢There is.｣
｢Message?｣ ｢For me?｣
｢Odd Grad.｣ ｢Pack.｣ ｢Attack.｣ ｢Kin.｣ ｢Most.｣ ｢Dead.｣
｢!｣
｢Young kin. Few. Left. Rest. Dead.｣
Nel Germa's words shocked both me and Adhai. The creature, with eyes like amethysts, opened its wings and trembled. Furious at the news of the young kin being brutally killed.
｢Odd Grad. Bad! Young kin. Pitiful!｣
However, in my case, the feelings were a bit different.
'He made the first move.'
It seems that while Ham Ort left with Adhai, the black Gallagon attacked their nest.
Without a leader on this side, and with a leader on their side, a black Gallagon even stronger than a white one, what happened next was predictable. There must have been a massacre.
The reason Ham Ort rushed back in the middle of our fight must have been because of that. She intended to join her kin, even if late, to fight against the black Gallagon.
'But it looks like she failed.'
Anyway, if she attacked the nest and slaughtered the Gallagons, it's a significant loss for me too. The number of genetic essences I can acquire would decrease.
'No, more than the genetic essence, the evolution conditions are the problem.'
To evolve into a Saint, I must personally kill an Apex. Eating the remains of a creature killed by another does not fulfill my evolution conditions.
I asked Nel Germa.
[ZZZ ZZZZZ ZZZ ZZ (What happened to Ham Ort?)]
｢When I left, Odd Grad and Ham Ort were fighting.｣
Nine out of ten, Ham Ort is dead. Even if she's stronger than a typical white Gallagon, he can't surpass the color difference.
｢More importantly, the Daughter of the Meteor.｣
｢?｣
｢Ham Ort said, 'Savior', 'Condition.'｣
｢Black kin already devoured the Sky King.｣
｢So white kin, devour necessary.｣
｢Devour kin?｣
｢Ham Ort wants to sacrifice herself for the Daughter of the Meteor's growth.｣
｢Impossible! Impossible!｣
Adhai, listening to Nel Germa, reacted with disbelief.
｢Ham Ort abandoned me! Sacrifice? Lies!｣
The idea that the mother who once abandoned her would now sacrifice herself for her seemed unreal to her.
Even if they are kin, it's hard to trust someone who once abandoned you. I could understand her feelings, having had a similar experience.
'She probably has it much worse than I did.'
Leaving the nest on this harsh ice planet without hunting skills means certain death. The group that abandoned Adhai clearly wanted her to die.
｢Actually, Ham Ort can't be the sacrifice. Instead, Nel Germa is the sacrifice.｣
｢Impossible!｣
｢No time. Odd Grad will find the remaining young kin.｣
As she shook her head, Nel Germa desperately tried to persuade her.
While watching the two, Number 26 approached me. It poked me with one of its tentacles.
｢Big One.｣
[ZZZ ZZZZZ ZZ ZZ (What is it?)]
｢Is the big flapper the little one's mom?｣
[ZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZZ (Yes, but that's a long time ago.)]
｢Once a mom, always a mom.｣
Honestly, I didn't want to engage in such trivial conversations with Number 26 in this situation. So I stayed silent, but it continued.
｢When she fled, she said something.｣
[ZZZ ZZ ZZ (What?)]
｢She asked to take good care of the little one.｣
I was about to dismiss it as nonsense when something suddenly came to mind.
When Ham Ort deceived me and retreated, she sent me a brief signal. At the time, I was too preoccupied with Adhai being in danger to properly hear it.
｢She said she hoped the little one would survive.｣
[ZZZ ZZ (That…)]
｢Is it because the big flapper is her mom?｣
I couldn't say anything in response to Number 26's words.
'…If I think about it that way, it makes sense.'
Why Ham Ort handed over her supposedly important daughter so easily.
When she communicated with her kin, she must have realized that their nest was under attack. Moreover, since I had already taken the Skywhale, Adhai's growth was no longer possible. So, she entrusted her daughter to me and went back to defend the nest.
'But that's not all. She thought it wouldn't be enough with just me, so she took out insurance.'
She knew how strong I was, but judged that I was weaker than the Black Gallagon. So, she told the White Gallagon fighting at the nest to send Adhai to me.
'Whether Adhai eats her or I kill Nel Germa and feed her to Adhai, it's the same.'
Either way, if Adhai becomes stronger, she can survive the Black Gallagon. It was her last gamble.
'Ha. Clever.'
Of all the enemies I've faced in this world, none have been as smart as her. Not MegaCorp's Noble Capital, not Star Union's androids, not even the players.
'Maternal instinct…'
It's ridiculous to apply human standards to a Gallagon, but there's no better concept to explain this situation. A mother's desire for her daughter's peace and happiness.
Or perhaps Ham Ort wanted to atone to the daughter she once abandoned.
Understanding Number 26's signal, Adhai's spirit seemed to deflate. Confusing emotions spilled from her head.
'Tsk.'
It's pointless to dwell on Ham Ort's intentions. Anyway, she's dead, and we still have a formidable enemy in the Black Gallagon.
Forcing myself to clear the lingering thoughts in my heart, I called Nel Germa.
[ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Is Odd Grad really that strong?)]
"Odd Grad has a mysterious power."
[ZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (A mysterious power?)]
"Odd Grad reads minds. Thanks to this, he doesn't get injured."
As far as I know, Black Gallagons don't have such abilities. They are like flying natural disasters but don't possess mind-reading or invulnerable skin.
'No, maybe there's a power I don't know about.'
If such a powerful creature also has an unknown power, it won't be an easy foe. The enemy itself is a problem, but we also have to consider its group. They will certainly use their minions when fighting me.
'In that case, we need reinforcements too.'
I lack the strength to fight right now. So, I must somehow make up for what I'm missing.
[ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ (I have a question.)]
"Ask, black kin."
[ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZ (Besides eating the white kin, are there other conditions?)]
"Probably not."
Nel Germa nodded.
'Good.'
Right now, I need more and stronger allies.
It would be more beneficial to use Nel Germa in the fight against them than to kill her here. Anyway, Adhai can eat any White Gallagon to grow.
Then the answer is clear.
'I need to capture another one from Odd Grad's group.'
——
[ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ (Come here once everything is settled)]
｢Understood.｣
Nel Germa respectfully greeted me and then took off.
Originally, she was destined to be devoured by Adhai right here, but the plan changed. Instead of sacrificing her, I chose the path of saving her.
With the plan changed, she set out on her next task—to gather the scattered kin.
Most of the surviving Gallagon are hatchlings, with only a few Green Gallagon left to protect them. She seemed to have judged that the safest place on this planet was near me and said she would bring her kin here.
'I don't intend to devour them right away.'
My original plan was to rescue Adhai after obtaining wings, not to wage an all-out war against the Black Gallagons.
Since coming to this planet, I've fought the Gallagon twice. Once against Ham Ort alone, and once when I killed ten Green Gallagon. Both times, the circumstances were favorable, and I won easily, but that was due to good luck.
What if Ham Ort had subordinates? Or if there had been two or three White Gallagon leading the ten Green Gallagon? It wouldn't have been an easy fight at all.
'Gallagon are strong individually, but they become even stronger in groups.'
Just like lions in Africa that form prides to hunt dangerous herbivores, Gallagon become very dangerous when they are properly organized. They are like the superior counterpart of the Glacier Fiend, which commands minions instead of fighting alone. A well-organized group of Gallagon is no different from a living squadron of combat aircraft.
'Therefore, we must strike quickly before they can prepare.'
Once they realize that the group of Green Gallagon sent to pursue Ham Ort's remnants has been wiped out, they'll sense something is wrong. The black Gallagon, Odd Grad, is older than any Gallagon on this planet. He'll know how to respond to a formidable opponent.
In other words, we need to shake them up before they can get into a defensive posture.
'The fortunate thing is that Nel Germa had a lot of useful information.'
Like Ham Ort, she was once part of the black gallagon, Odd Grad's, group. Therefore, she knew very well how many White Gallagon were in the group.
'The total number of White Gallagon is nineteen.'
Originally, there were twenty-four, but four left the group with Ham Ort, reducing the number to nineteen. Among them, twelve are young individuals that have recently shed their skins. The gender ratio is half male and half female.
On the other hand, the remaining seven are mature individuals who have spent a long time shedding their skins. Although they're not as old as the Black Gallagon, they are quite aged.
In the game, White Gallagon had equal abilities, but this is reality. Their strength varies based on how long they've lived and their combat experience.
'You can definitely see the difference when looking at Ham Ort.'
And those seven are Odd Grad's favored companions, receiving care from the black gallagon. Even Nel Germa emphasized how dangerous they are. It's best to assume they are at least on Ham Ort's level.
'First, let's plan to deal with weaker individuals.'
Adhai requires materials for growth, and any White Gallagon will do. At least, that's what the Gallagon who knew his secret said.
'The first one will be used as food, and the rest….'
It would be wise to absorb as many traits as possible by devouring them, and then recruit them as allies. At another time, I would have devoured them all, but now we need to increase our allies.
'I've already heard about their hunting schedule.'
The seven always stay in the nest, serving Odd Grad. The twelve go out for hunting once every three to four days.
'Nel Germa said there isn't much time left until they go hunting again.'
They don't know yet that the Green Gallagon pursuit team has been wiped out. Therefore, it's likely they'll send out a hunting party before learning of the pursuit team's demise. However, the Gallagon's sense of time is slightly different from humans, so we can't rely solely on that information.
'Surveillance and preparation. Both are necessary.'
We need to monitor the nest's activities while also preparing for the fight before they come out.
That's the task ahead of me, or rather, us, from now on.
Using the information Nel Germa provided, I called everyone to discuss the plan.
｢It's a solid plan. However, there's one thing that needs changing.｣
[ZZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (What part concerns you?)]
｢I think I should handle nest surveillance instead of PS-111. My vision is superior and I have more experience.｣
[I disagree. My detection system covers a 360-degree range…]
I initially assigned PS-111 to nest surveillance due to two key advantages: psychic power detection and agility.
Among us, Number 26 is the top expert in psychic power, but it has the disadvantage of slow movement on the ground. If discovered by the Gallagon, it would struggle to escape. PS-111's detection abilities aren't as strong as Number 26's, but its movements are extremely swift.
'However, her argument also makes sense.'
Mother of the Sky has less psychic power detection ability but excellent vision. Although PS-111 doesn't seem to agree, I think the difference between them is significant.
Moreover, she's a former ranker like me, and she has experience hunting creatures like the Gallagon.
'And this is reality.'
Unlike the rigid PS-111, she has flexible judgment. Even if something goes wrong, she can easily extricate herself from a crisis.
[ZZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZ (Alright. I'll leave that part to Mother of the Sky.)]
｢Thank you.｣
[ZZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ ZZ (Instead, PS-111 will move with Number 26.)]
[Understood.]
｢Trust me, friend!｣
Number 26 and PS-111 will protect the group that Nel Germa is bringing. Although Nel Germa didn't mention it, I find it hard to believe that the old black gallagon would send only one pursuit team.
'There must be more Green Gallagon tracking us.'
Pairing Number 26 and PS-111 with Nel Germa should ensure they can handle any encounters with pursuit teams.
[ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Adhai, you will come with me.)]
Lastly, Adhai will accompany me.
There are two reasons for this: training her in combat and testing a new apex predator diet.
While the White Gallagon is crucial for growth, we don't know the impact of other foods. Although it's unlikely, it could significantly benefit her development.
'Regardless, it won't hurt.'
The apex predators are rich in energy, making it an excellent meal for Adhai, who has just evolved.
Moreover, taking her to hunt the apex predator will help her hone her abilities. To prepare for the upcoming battle, she needs to fully understand her powers. There's nothing better than fighting strong opponents for adaptation.
[ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ (When Nel Germa arrives, lead them to the nest.)]
｢Are you sure?｣
[ZZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (If we leave the Blue Gallagon outside, they'll freeze to death. They must be kept in the nest to survive.)]
I understand Mother of the Sky's concerns, but we have no choice. Without their gallagon nest, the only way to keep them alive is in the warmth of the cruiser.
Just then, Nel Germa returned.
｢Survivors?｣ ｢Kin?｣ ｢All of them?｣
｢All.｣
｢Eggs? Where?｣
｢Odd Grad took them.｣
Nel Germa brought three Green Gallagon and five Blue Gallagon. She said Odd Grad personally killed all the White Gallagon.
'Not many.'
The other side has 19 White Gallagon, while we only have nine, even including Adhai, making us just ten in total. We are vastly outnumbered.
'Tch. This much was expected.'
Although disappointing, it was anticipated.
However, Adhai was trembling, perhaps because she wasn't as prepared. When she was captured by Ham Ort, she stayed in a nest with hatchlings. She must know better than anyone how many Blue Gallagon were killed.
Normally, I would comfort her, but this time is different.
'Anger can be useful in a fight.'
It helps to push beyond self-imposed limits without even realizing it.
Of course, being consumed by anger can cloud one's judgment, but in this case, it doesn't matter. I will manage her emotions.
[ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ (Ask them where they want to go.)]
｢I'll explain on the way. Follow me.｣
｢Agree.｣ ｢Everyone.｣ ｢Move.｣
Everyone started moving as planned. In the end, only Adhai and I remained at the location.
｢Adult｣ ｢I,｣ ｢shock,｣ ｢young kin,｣ ｢death,｣ ｢don't want.｣
[ZZZ ZZZZ (I know.)]
｢Young kin,｣ ｢innocent,｣ ｢Odd Grad,｣ ｢bad.｣
Honestly, I had also intended to consume all the Gallagon before things escalated like this, but I didn't say that.
Instead, I brought up a different point.
[ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (You must seek revenge.)]
｢Agree.｣ ｢Revenge.｣ ｢Necessary.｣
[ZZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ (Odd Grad killed your mother and the younglings it abandoned you with.)]
｢Agree.｣
As the waves from the monster's tentacles resonated, flames erupted in Adhai's eyes. Not metaphorically—purple flames literally flared up over her amethyst eyes. Her latent psychic power was manifesting outwardly.
[ZZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZ (Odd Grad must pay with death. So must its kin.)]
｢Agree!｣ ｢Odd Grad,｣ ｢death,｣ ｢necessary!｣ ｢Necessary!｣
Adhai nodded vigorously.
This way, I could extract the genetic essence from the Gallagon without damaging our relationship. It was a bit disappointing that we couldn't eat the Blue Gallagon, but that's a minor loss.
'Regardless, Odd Grad must die.'
It's not just because it will attack me or because I need its genetic essence.
It abandoned Adhai, the creature I cherish, leaving her with a scar that cannot be healed.
'When all preparations are complete….'
Odd Grad will meet its end by my hand.
***
The Ice Plains, home to the Snake King.
Recently, due to a mysterious earthquake, the ground of the plains had become unstable. Ten green-scaled beings were flying over that area.
They were the tracking team sent by Odd Grad, searching for the remnants that served the pure white queen, Ham Ort.
The Gallagon troop meticulously scanned the ice plains, concluding that no enemies were present. Their next destination was a place far from their nest—an icy canyon beyond the plains. Although it was the territory of the Beast King, they paid no heed.
The Beast King was invincible on land but could not fly. Even if they encountered it, they could escape anytime.
Thus, the Gallagon troop entered the Beast King's territory without any hindrance.
The ten winged gallagons flew through the deep canyon, created by nature, without a care. As they reached the middle of the canyon, the lead Gallagon noticed something.
In the deep, dark area where light barely penetrated, something glimmered.
｢Stop.｣
｢Traitor,｣ ｢found?｣
｢Confirm｣｢Attempt｣
At the moment when the lead Gallagon was about to approach the light.
Dozens of red lights appeared from the cliff where the light was located.
｢Enemy｣｢Attack…｣
In an uneasy atmosphere, the Gallagon hurriedly tried to emit its Psychic waves. However, its kin could not hear its Psychic waves.
Something unknown was blocking their communication.
Confused as its Psychic waves failed to reach, the red lights leaped from the cliff. Dozens of unidentified beings with multiple legs climbed onto its body.
It tried to shake them off desperately, but it was futile. They ruthlessly tore at its wings with sharp claws and teeth.
In just a few seconds, covered in blood, it plummeted into the unseen abyss below.
It hoped its kin would escape unharmed, but reality betrayed its expectations.
Its nine comrades also fell into the abyss just like itself.
From the cliff above, more red lights coldly looked down at them.
[Hostile organisms, 10 specimens subdued. Energy supply initiated.]
[Expected recovery of 'PS-111' up to 75% based on energy level. Resumption of activity anticipated.]
[Deploy recovery team, supply team….]
Even as they fell, the red lights continued to emit unintelligible sounds.
The Green Gallagon could never comprehend what those sounds meant.
——
In the MegaCorp, it is called PH-101, and in the Cult Empire, it is known as Saigil 08.
Designated as a holy land by the Cult, this planet features mysterious and dangerous nature with diverse ecosystems. Rare creatures, seldom seen elsewhere, roam the planet, and the native Wolf tribes maintain
their unique civilization, hostile to outsiders.
To put it simply, this place was a "dangerous paradise."
Protected strictly by the Cult Empire, this planet saw few footprints from external civilizations. Occasionally, pirates, smugglers, or fanatic researchers from the MegaCorp attempted to invade, but success was
rare. Most were destroyed by the empire's defense fleet before even entering the atmosphere.
However, the notion of a well-preserved natural planet was now outdated.
Black flames from the sky and golden lightning shot by demons on the ground. The aftermath of a war between transcendent beings affected the entire planet.
The planet's sky was in complete disarray due to magnetic storms and debris from exploded carrier fleets. Trees that once colored the ground green were burning fiercely, and countless creatures within them were scorched to death.
Although some creatures managed to survive, their situation was not favorable. As time passed, the fires spread, and their habitats shrank inversely.
For once, creatures that usually had a predator-prey relationship were fleeing from the fire together.
A predator resembling a black panther with spider legs, the Nightstalker, eyed the fleeing Wood Devil with a covert lick of its lips.
The creature, slightly singed by the flames, emitted a unique scent. That enticing smell drove the Nightstalker crazy.
The Nightstalker knew that escaping the fire took precedence over attacking each other at the moment. However, that scent was irresistibly alluring.
Grrrrr.
Dominated by overwhelming hunger, the Nightstalker drooled as it ran. The Wood Devil, unaware of the thoughts of the creature behind it, continued to flee.
Grr…rk?!
Just as the Nightstalker was about to pounce on its prey, it halted in mid-air as if frozen. Panicked, it struggled to break free from the invisible force, but it was futile.
The unseen power crushed the Nightstalker's bones before it could resist. The Wood Devil met the same fate.
Both creatures, with their bones shattered in an instant, floated in the air and were carried away somewhere.
They flew through the burning forest and landed in front of a pink creature.
This pink creature resembled a jellyfish but was incomparably larger. Even combined, the Nightstalker and Wood Devil's corpses were not half its size.
Beneath its round body extended numerous fins and tentacles. Inside the fins and tentacles were small claws reminiscent of saw teeth, densely packed.
This creature, usually unseen in the forest, dwelled in the deep blue sea.
Known as the "Sea Demon," a demon among monsters of the deep sea, it was a creature of nightmares.
It extended its tentacles and wrapped around the corpses.
｢I must quickly bring these to Big Baby.｣
Sea Demon Number 26 began to move, carrying the corpses.
The flames that consumed the entire forest tried to scorch its soft skin.
Whenever the flames approached, it released psychic power. This power not only destroyed the flames but also shattered the trees, which it ignored entirely.
As Number 26 moved, scorching the forest, it emerged into a spacious clearing. This place, closer to a small plain, was where she treasured the most.
The gigantic monster that set the sky ablaze had fallen into a deep sleep after exhausting all its strength.
In front of the monster's elongated snout was a mountain of various creatures' meat, prepared to feed it.
Number 26 approached the pile of corpses to arrange the food properly. As it did so, something small fell from the sky.
It was small animals or insects inhabiting the forest.
｢Food｣｢Found it｣
The entity that dropped the small prey landed in front of Number 26.
With a long, sleek body, a cluster of small tentacles instead of a mouth, and wings as large as its body, the creature was a rare being from a place far removed from this planet. It was a Gallagon.
The green scales indicated it was a well-grown specimen, but its size was very small compared to other green Gallagons.
Adhai, a mutant female Gallagon, nodded in satisfaction as she looked at the prey she had caught.
｢I｣｢brought｣｢a lot｣
Adhai's tone implied she wanted praise, but Number 26 didn't want to comply. The reason was that Adhai's recent actions had annoyed her.
｢?｣
｢I stacked the food nicely, but Little One messed it up.｣
｢Belly｣｢Digest｣｢Food｣｢Same｣｢Shape｣｢Doesn't matter｣
Adhai argued that once it goes into the stomach, it's all the same. However, Number 26 couldn't agree.
The big baby, who was asleep, was picky about meals. Unlike it, who ate everything, the big baby carefully chose which parts of the food to eat first and which were tastiest.
Number 26 had deliberately arranged the food to please the big baby, but Adhai had ruined it.
｢Put it back.｣
｢Don't understand｣
｢I'll give the big baby the food he likes first.｣
Adhai looked displeased but followed Number 26's instructions without further complaint. They both shared the desire to offer the best food to the one they loved.
Adhai lifted the carcass of a boar with dozens of spikes on its head and placed it on top of the pile. As she positioned her prey, Number 26 got annoyed.
｢What are you doing!｣
｢Big baby｣｢Likes this｣｢Better｣
｢No! He likes this better!｣
｢Disagree｣
As Number 26 tried to move the food with its tentacles, Adhai blocked its way. Number 26 used its psychic power to shove Adhai aside like swatting away a fly.
｢Unfair!｣
Adhai responded by using her own psychic power. When Number 26 moved the boar aside and placed something else, Adhai used her speed ability to quickly restore it to its original position.
｢Why did you move it!｣
｢This one｣｢Better｣
Just as they were glaring at each other, a griffin carrying prey on its back appeared from the burning forest.
With a head resembling a bald eagle, a golden mane, and a lion-like body, the mythical creature wore a sapphire necklace around its neck.
It was Mother of the Sky, a companion of the monsters gathered here. Like Number 26 and Adhai, she had also found food in the forest, and she tilted her head in curiosity at the tense atmosphere.
｢What's going on? You're both here… but why is the mood like this?｣
｢Little Adult｣｢Bullies me｣
｢Little One made the first mistake!｣
｢Don't understand｣｢Little Adult｣｢Moves food｣｢At will｣
｢Big baby doesn't like that.｣
｢Wrong｣｢Little Adult｣｢Knows nothing｣｢Absolutely｣｢Nothing｣
｢Wait a minute. Is this about who gets to give what to Big Baby first?｣
｢Yes.｣
｢Agree｣
Mother of the Sky was speechless at their argument.
The giant monster lying before them, Amorph, viewed all living creatures as genetic essence. He ate anything and everything without discrimination.
｢Big Baby likes everything, so can't you just stack it all together?｣
｢No. If it gets cold, it won't taste good.｣
｢Little Adult｣｢wrong about other things｣｢but right this time｣
｢Little One is mean! Mean ones should be punished!｣
｢I won't back down from a fight｣
｢Wait, wait, wait!｣
As the tension between Sea Demon and Gallagon escalated, Mother of the Sky quickly intervened.
If they fought, Adhai would be done for. Despite her cute speech, that pink slime was a monster capable of hurling a house-sized boulder hundreds of meters away. Using that strength on Adhai would leave no trace of her.
｢Why don't you just stack them separately?｣
｢Separately?｣
｢Yes. Then Big Baby can wake up and eat what he wants first.｣
｢Troublesome｣｢Useless｣
｢You both want to give what you brought first. This way is more certain, isn't it?｣
With Mother of the Sky's desperate persuasion, both Number 26 and Adhai quickly calmed down. The anger they had towards each other subsided, but instead, a sense of competition started to rise.
｢I'll gather more than you!｣
｢Little Adult｣｢slow｣｢I｣｢fast｣
Adhai spread her wings wide and flew off with all her might. She soared through the forest much faster than when she fought the Pale Mask in the sea.
｢I won't lose either!｣
Number 26 also flapped its fins diligently and disappeared into the forest filled with flames.
Once the two small monsters vanished, Mother of the Sky sighed. Her amber eyes looked resentfully at the giant beast that was asleep.
'Amorph, you bastard, you're going to cause big trouble later.'
First, it was asking how to lay eggs, and now it's a competition about who prepares the food better. If they were normal creatures, it wouldn't matter, but these were beings at the pinnacle of their ecosystems.
If they fought later, it would be a bloody massacre.
'I was going to gather more food…'
Mother of the Sky piled the food she had brought on her back in a corner. Then she lay down on the parched ground, holding a small piece of food she had just gathered in her mouth.
'There's no need for that.'
As she chewed on the squid-like food and waited, Adhai appeared first. Flying in at an incredible speed, she dropped the food from the sky without even landing.
Like a bomber, Adhai carpet-bombed the area with food and then flew off again.
'If I don't organize it, they might fight.'
Mother of the Sky gathered the food Adhai left behind and piled it in front of Amorph.
After about ten trips from Adhai, Number 26 appeared. Seeing it emerge from the forest, Mother of the Sky dropped the food she was holding in her mouth.
'What the… is that?'
Five fully grown Plant-lizards and several other large monster carcasses were floating in the air. Below, Number 26 was moving the corpses with its psychic power.
｢Where should I put these?｣
｢…Over there.｣
It poured the carcasses where Mother of the Sky pointed. Then it bounced on its fins and disappeared into the forest.
As soon as it left, Adhai landed for the first time. Her beautiful amethyst eyes were fixed on the pile of food Number 26 had made.
｢Is that｣｢Little Adult's｣｢food?｣
｢Yes.｣
Adhai shook her head in annoyance and flew off again.
'…Damn, did I just make things worse?'
She sensed that the competition between the two was becoming serious. And she was right.
The competition between Adhai and Number 26 continued until Adhai could no longer fly. At that time, Number 26 was also in a severely weakened state due to excessive energy expenditure.
In front of the Amorph, a mountain of dead creatures was piled up. Some had been burned, but most were unfortunate creatures sacrificed in the competition between the two small monsters.
'…Terrifying creatures.'
It would have been fine if it ended there, but another issue arose.
｢My prey is bigger!」
｢I ｢more｣ ｢brought ｢I win」
｢No! Bigger prey is better!」
｢False small prey｣ ｢unknown｣ ｢unknown｣ ｢unknown｣ ｢completely｣ ｢unknown!」
Exhausted to the point of not being able to move a wing, Adhai was only able to irritate Number 26 with her words. Number 26 seemed to want to strike with its tentacles, but perhaps due to exhaustion, it could only snort.
And that spat fire hit a third party.
｢Hey, middle baby, who did better?」
｢Huh?」
｢Good friend｣ ｢correct answer ｢please」
When the two monsters looked at her, the Mother of the Sky was flustered.
'Why are they asking me?'
Choosing a side immediately would not be a problem, but she feared future consequences. One was a boss-level creature and the other had the potential to become a fearsome entity.
Holding a grudge from either side was a tremendous burden for her, who had just joined the group.
｢Uh, well, maybe it would be best if we consider both as winners? Big baby also wants…」
｢No. Big baby likes bigger prey. Small, tasteless prey is not liked, even if there is a lot of it.」
｢Small prey｣ ｢all｣ ｢wrong｣ ｢big prey｣ ｢amount｣ ｢importance｣ ｢quality｣ ｢not important」
Given the atmosphere, it was impossible to brush it off.
At that moment, she was unsure of how to respond.
Grrr!
The voice of the Savior was heard.
When she turned her head, she saw the sleeping monster had opened its eyes.
The creature that had been asleep for two days rose, stretching his multiple arms.
[ZZZZ ZZ (Smells good)]
｢Number 26 and Adhai brought the prey! Try it quickly.」
[ZZZ ZZZZ (Huh? Really?)]
The Mother of the Sky quickly handed over the decision to him. Just waking up, he scratched under his chin with his arms and looked down at the pile of prey.
And having made up his mind, he reached out his arms.
｢Huh?」
Amorph used the membranes attached to his combat arms to sweep up the piles of prey and pour them into his mouth. The action was so swift that it was impossible to determine whose prey was eaten first.
｢Big baby ｢ate」
｢So, who won?」
Amorph, who had devoured everything except for a few corpses, reached out and embraced Number 26 and Adhai.
[ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZ (Thank you all for taking care of me)]
｢Is the big baby not in pain anymore?」
｢Big baby okay?」
[ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZ ZZ ZZZ (Yes. If it weren't for you, it would have been a big problem. Thanks to you)]
Perhaps it was exhaustion or perhaps being wrapped in the shell of a loved one.
Number 26 and Adhai wanted to ask whose prey tasted better, but they couldn't. The overwhelming dread engulfed them. They fell asleep before they could even ask.
[ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZ (You must be very tired?)]
｢You seem to have a lot of sins.」
[ZZZ (Huh?)]
｢It's nothing.」
The Mother of the Sky let out a small sigh.
As the sky and earth burned, Amorph, oblivious to everything, gently patted the sleeping Number 26 and Adhai.
——
What would be a good Apex for Adhai and me to hunt together?
The Sky Whale, which absorbs all kinds of energy, is out of the question. To fight it, we would have to rely purely on physical abilities, which would be very disadvantageous for Adhai, who is much smaller than her kind.
The Crystal Wing is a suitable opponent to improve Adhai's skills, but there's a problem. It would take at least several days to catch them, and we don't have that much time.
So, the Crystal Wing is also excluded.
Another candidate to consider is the Glacier Fiend, but this is also ambiguous. The narcotic substance of the Glacier Fiend can also allure Gallagons. Although White Gallagons have a high resistance to poison, it would still be difficult to avoid aftereffects. Since the fight with Odd Grad is not far away, it is not good to fight an enemy that leaves aftereffects.
What about the Ice Horror?
Not very good. In the case of the Ice Horror, it has eaten it twice. The one I caught and the one Ham Ort caught, making it two times. Having eaten it multiple times, it is unlikely to have a new impact.
Excluding the Ice Horror, we are left with the Gallagon. A good opponent, but apart from Odd Grad and Ham Ort's group, it doesn't exist on this planet. Ultimately, the Gallagon is also a no-go.
With five types of Apexes excluded, there are three other Apexes that inhabit the ice planet, according to my memory. One of them, the Arcane Orca, is a higher species of the Sky Whale, so it's out. That leaves two.
One of them has no flying ability at all. It is not suitable as a training target for Adhai, who needs to get used to aerial combat.
Naturally, only one Apex remains.
I am now moving with Adhai to capture it.
We are currently in a place far from the forest where the nest is located. Although it's closer to the giant mountain where we caught the Sky Whale, it still takes quite some time to get there.
We have come a little farther out since there have been no special movements from the Odd Grad group. It's dangerous to take too long, so I plan to look around for a day and then return.
Considering Adhai's stamina, we landed on the mountain from time to time to rest or have meals.
[ZZZ (Eat)]
｢Thank you｣
I handed a small animal carcass to Adhai. Watching her suck the blood with her tentacles, I also swallowed an animal carcass in one gulp.
'The creature we are going to catch this time is difficult to find, so I mustn't be impatient.'
Although not as troublesome as the Crystal Wing, it is still a hassle to find.
This time, the prey is a stealth-type Apex. Like the Ice Horror, it is a type that makes its own home and hides.
'It's more of a food storage than a home, though.'
It has a peculiar habit of catching prey, storing it in a suitable place, letting it rot, and then eating it. Its nickname is Gourmet for a reason.
Just as it picks its food, the prey we are going to hunt this time is very intelligent. Although it does not possess the high sociality and advanced conversation system of the Gallagon, this is because they move alone.
In a way, it is similar to the Amorph.
After a short meal and rest, we resumed our search.
Below our wings, we left the forest full of trees and saw the ridges of the mountains stretching widely.
Even during the flight, my auxiliary organs were fixed on the mid-mountain area. This is because it mainly makes its hiding place in the middle of the mountain, so we need to examine that area carefully.
As it is very smart, it hides its nest well, but there is one distinctive feature. I have already informed Adhai about this.
｢Great Elder｣ ｢Question｣
While meticulously examining the mountains, Adhai called me.
｢Great Elder｣ ｢Knowledge｣ ｢Many｣ ｢Kin｣ ｢Me｣ ｢Not know｣ ｢All｣ ｢Know｣ ｢Amazing｣
[ZZZZ ZZZZ ZZ (Is that so?)]
｢Ham Ort｣ ｢Odd Grad｣ ｢Both｣ ｢All｣ ｢Do not know｣ ｢Great Elder｣ ｢Only｣
She seemed amazed that I had so much information. From my perspective, it's more impressive that she remembers every movement of the stars.
｢Great Elder｣ ｢Every｣ ｢Prey｣ ｢All｣ ｢Know?｣
[ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZ (No, not to that extent)]
I have memorized about 80% of the creature information from Space Survival. For an Amorph, knowing more about creatures is beneficial because traits translate to power.
'There weren't many players who knew as much as I did.'
Probably, only the 4th rank Outspacer and the 1st rank Cyborg knew as much or more than I did.
However, this place is reality, so there are quite a few differences from the game. Number 26, who evolved from a Bubble Amoeba to a Sea Demon, and Adhai, a mutant Gallagon, are entities not seen in the game.
This also applies to the Ice Horror we first encountered on this planet. It was much larger than its game counterpart. Even the White Gallagon, Ham Ort, possessed skills far superior to its kin.
'For now, my knowledge is still useful.'
But who knows how long that will last. The only way to minimize the risk of discrepancies between my knowledge and reality is one thing.
'To grow stronger so I won't die.'
[ZZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZz (There's still much I don't know. I'm still weak.)]
｢Great One｣ ｢Body｣ ｢Resembles black kin｣ ｢Strength｣ ｢Strong｣
[ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ (You will be stronger than me when you grow.)]
｢Truth?｣
It is true. Even an ordinary Black Gallagon has superior specs compared to mine. If Adhai becomes a Red Gallagon, she will be the most powerful among my companions.
'Though, due to her small body, she won't be as strong as the original.'
Adhai, hearing my words, wagged her tail happily while flying.
｢I｣ ｢Growth｣ ｢Complete｣ ｢After｣ ｢Wish｣ ｢Have｣
[ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ (Okay. If you have a wish, I will grant it.)]
｢Promise｣
Like Adhai, I also need to continue gathering genetic essence beyond evolution. If she has a preferred prey, hunting together wouldn't be bad.
As we continued exploring the mountains, I spotted traces of our target.
[ZZZ (Found it.)]
｢Where?｣
[ZZZ (There.)]
Adhai and I landed on a snow-covered mountainside. It wasn't rocky but had abundant trees and plants.
'They transplant trees and plants to hide the nest entrance.'
Anyone unaware of this behavior or an ordinary animal would simply pass by.
｢There｣ ｢Nest?｣
[ZZ (Yes.)]
I led Adhai to a place thick with trees, vines, moss, and various plants.
The reason I was sure this was the nest and food storage was simple. I pulled out a vine growing from the ground.
'This plant species doesn't grow here.'
The creature with flying ability always goes far to get its prey. Each time, it brings back seeds or roots from the area where it found food and plants them at the hideout entrance.
So, if you see plants that don't naturally grow in the area, it's a sign of the creature's hideout.
I plucked a berry from the vine and swallowed it, tossing one to Adhai, who began eating it. I told her:
[ZZZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ (Wait here for a moment.)]
｢I｣ ｢Together｣ ｢Enter｣
[ZZZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (No. I will lure it out and we will fight outside.)]
The opponent we will face prefers highly unconventional tactics, often ambushing or deceiving its prey for a counterattack. Its attacks are very powerful, and if not careful, it could seriously injure Adhai.
'It's better if I go in and draw it out.'
I tore through the vines and trees. Using my wing arms and combat arms to clear the obstacles, a large cave entrance appeared.
From inside, faint smells of blood and rotting corpses wafted out. Smelling this, I was certain.
'I found it.'
The creature I was searching for wouldn't leave its nest until it had finished its meal.
I crawled into the entrance on my stomach. The entrance was narrow, but the tunnel widened as I moved deeper. It wasn't just the tunnel that expanded; it branched into numerous pathways like an ant colony.
But I didn't need to venture further in. My goal was to lure it out.
'It might be waiting for me, but…'
I stopped in a suitably wide corridor.
Fortunately, the cooldown for the Hunter's Mark had just ended a few minutes ago. I activated my latent bio-weapon.
As the form of my head carapace changed, my vision disappeared, and my other senses became highly sensitive. My body twisted, relocating my face-like structure to the head carapace, and a pair of bone-scythe arms emerged from my back. My wings now bore red vein-like patterns. The transformation extended my body length, filling the corridor.
Raising my body even slightly caused my head to touch the ceiling. This was exactly what I wanted. I began to slam my head against the corridor walls and ceiling.
'Come out quickly.'
The creature wouldn't die from the tunnel collapsing. However, its precious food supplies would be ruined.
"Saaahhh! Shaaa!"
Just as I intended, I heard an enraged roar from within. Following that, a sound like rapidly flipping through a book echoed through the tunnel. The creature was charging.
Having successfully lured it out, I began to retreat.
The smell of mold and darkness of the cave grew more intense as the creature approached. I could sense its strong animosity in its footsteps.
When my tail pincers finally emerged from the nest, the creature's mantis-like arm slashed through the air. Its powerful forelegs severed one of my horns.
I had anticipated its approach, so I quickly retracted my head to avoid a fatal wound.
With one horn lost, I hastily exited the nest.
｢Big One｣｢Horn｣｢Where go?｣
[ZZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (It will come out. Get ready)]
Adhai, who had been using her tendrils like straws to eat berries, tensed up upon hearing my warning. Seconds after I exited, the creature emerged.
Its forelegs aimed another slash at me, but I was prepared. Utilizing the open space, I twisted my body to dodge the attack, then used the momentum to swing my tail.
The pincer at the end of my tail struck the creature like a flail, sending it flying onto the snow piled in front of the cave.
'That was weak.'
Although it seemed like a direct hit, it wasn't. The creature had folded its forelegs to minimize damage.
As expected, it rose unharmed.
Its name was 'Hellside Hornet.' True to its name, it resembled an insect, an apex predator.
'Though no insect like that exists in reality.'
The Hellside Hornet had features resembling a mantis, wasp, and horsefly. Unlike regular insects with six legs, it had eight. Two forelegs similar to a mantis's arms on its upper body and six legs on its lower body.
It had an upright upper body and folding scythe-like forelegs, reminiscent of a mantis.
However, unlike a slender mantis, its upper body was bulked up. Underneath its thick carapace lay muscles that seemed impossible for an insect.
'Its speed and strength come from those muscles.'
Atop its solid upper body was a head similar to a wasp's. Just as a wasp's bite is painful, the creature's mandibles were formidable weapons.
Its back bore large wings that covered its entire body. While its upper body resembled a mantis, its lower body was like a horsefly, complete with a long, bio-duct near its rear.
[ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ (Be careful not to get hit by that tail)]
｢Understood｣
I compared it to a horsefly for a reason. If attacked by its tail, one gets infected with parasites.
While these parasites don't control their host like mine or Out Spacers, or drive them insane like the narcotic substances of the Glacier Fiend, they do cause hundreds, even thousands, of maggots to erupt from the wound. It's akin to the effect of the 'Tetanus Vine' I used to incapacitate a temple guard before.
'In some ways, it's even more horrifying than the vine.'
Imagine hundreds of maggots, each the size of an adult man's finger, burrowing through the wound and body. Visually shocking, and above all, excruciatingly painful. Adhai would be incapacitated immediately upon infection.
The only consolation is that due to its large body structure, it's difficult for the creature to infect Adhai with its tail.
'It's a big one.'
The Hellside Hornet before us stood about 10 meters tall and 15 meters long. To infect Adhai, its body would need to be quite flexible.
The Hellside Hornet, with its dark military green base color and thick brown stripes, glared at us with its repulsive compound eyes.
Shaaa, Saaah.
Its gaze was fixed on our wings, assessing our maneuverability.
Then, its wings spread wide. Simultaneously, Adhai and I unfurled ours.
'It's starting.'
All three of us ascended into the dark sky together.
The aerial battle between me and the two apex predators had just begun.
——