213
-x-X-x-
Floating in the air, I flapped my wings to gain altitude. Adhai, boasting her swift flight speed, had already risen ahead of me.
Swaa.
The Hellside Hornet was also zipping behind me, quickly catching up. It spread its arms and swung them at me.
Its arms, resembling the front legs of a mantis, were sharp and sturdy. They could even damage the hardest part of my body, my head carapace.
'My pincers can't withstand that.'
The defense of my pincers at the tail end is equivalent to that of my head carapace. It has high resistance to psychic powers. Thus, using strategies like deflecting its attacks or blocking with my body would be disadvantageous.
I pulled my tail toward my body during flight. The scythe-like appendage of the Hellside Hornet sliced through the air.
Using the recoil from bending my tail, I twisted my body upside down in midair. As I spun around, my upper body faced the Hellside Hornet.
In that position, I extended my tentacles. Six long tentacles moved to tear off the Hellside Hornet's wings.
Seeing the hissing tentacles, it quickly retreated. I anticipated its movement and spat out acidic fungi in the direction it was moving.
"Shraak!"
The Hellside Hornet, covered in green liquid, appeared irritated. It can shoot out a fearsome digestive fluid, making it immune to various acidic attacks.
However, my attack wasn't intended to cause critical damage.
I charged towards the Hellside Hornet, which couldn't see due to the liquid. Sensing the air's resistance, it hurriedly flapped its wings to evade. Its body shot upwards, and my horns brushed its toes.
I could feel a few of its claws shattering against my horns, but it was weak. The Hellside Hornet, quickly shedding the liquid from its eyes, attempted to strike my back with its arm.
My bone scythe arm on my back collided with its arm. While my bone scythe was dented halfway, the Hellside Hornet's arm also sustained damage. The sharpness of my bone scythe slightly damaged the blade on its arm.
As the Hellside Hornet and I engaged in aerial combat, a purple energy mass flew in from somewhere. Had it not ducked its head, it would have had a baseball-sized hole in the back of its head.
Thanks to its compound eyes, the Hellside Hornet had no blind spots—except before I covered its entire vision earlier.
'What a waste.'
"Shraak!"
Having barely escaped death, the Hellside Hornet screeched and distanced itself from me. Adhai then shot another purple energy mass.
The Hellside Hornet raised its arms in front of its head to block the head-targeted attack. Although the energy ball hit, it only left a slight scorch mark on its sturdy arm.
Using its arms as a shield, the Hellside Hornet attempted to chase Adhai again, but she was already gone.
Lightning spread across the dark sky. The term "lightning" is not metaphorical. Despite the enhanced performance of the auxiliary organs in the hunting state, it was challenging to keep up with its movements.
Transformed into white lightning, it retreated while intermittently releasing psychic breaths to control its opponents. The Hellside Hornet wasn't particularly slow, but its speed made approach impossible.
"Swaa! Shraak!"
The Hellside Hornet, now highly agitated, emitted a bizarre sound. Along with this, a strong heat emanated from its body.
[ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (It's just beginning. Be careful)]
｢Confirmed｣
Its body, glowing as if it had emerged from molten lava, soon began concentrating the heat towards its rear.
From its rear, I felt the movement of countless things bubbling. It was akin to an egg sac filled with baby spiders.
My auxiliary organs' perception was accurate. Countless flying insects burst forth from the Hellside Hornet's rear.
Sss Sss Sss Sss Sss Sss
The insects are called 'Hornetlings'. They are the offspring of the Hellside Hornet.
Hornetlings resemble the Hellside Hornet but are much smaller, only the size of an adult male's fist. Moreover, they lack the menacing front legs.
But that doesn't mean I should let my guard down.
Hornetlings are also one of the Hellside Hornet's powerful weapons.
While the Hellside Hornet prefers to directly implant its stingers into enemies to hatch Hornetlings, it sometimes expands its own energy to grow Hornetlings internally when fighting formidable opponents, like now.
Hornetlings born this way have a distinctive feature: they are extremely hungry because they have only received the energy necessary for growth.
Shaaaa.
When it made that sound, the swarm of Hornetlings flew towards Adhai. Although each individual was small, the swarm numbered around a thousand. The sight of the swarm moving together resembled a small, moving cloud.
'Except there is no such fast-moving cloud in the world.'
Hornetlings are as fast as adults. A cloud of insects closed in on Adhai.
Knowing that Adhai was much faster, the Hornetlings reformed into a surrounding formation to trap her. The Hellside Hornet pressured Adhai to prevent her from escaping.
[ZZZ ZZZ ZZZZZ ZZ (Use that technique)]
｢Understood!｣
Understanding my intent, Adhai gathered her strength and released it. Psychic power erupted from the tips of her tentacles like a fountain.
This was the Purple Lightning she used during her Green Gallagon days.
Sss! Ssh! Sss! Sss! Ssh!
The massive psychic net created by her covered the Hornetlings. Hundreds of Hornetlings fell like insects struck by an electric fly swatter.
'Increased destructive power and precision?'
Originally, Purple Lightning's destructive power is less than half of Psychic Breath and has a much shorter range. However, it is effective for fighting many enemies due to its wide spread.
But Adhai was controlling it to maximize its power and accuracy.
Just as Number 26 dispersed psychic power to subdue enemies, Adhai operated in a similar manner. Purple Lightning, which had previously ended after one shot, now moved as if it had a will of its own, annihilating the Hornetlings.
Adhai defeated the Hornetling swarm while maneuvering evasively. She mixed in Psychic Breaths to keep the Hellside Hornet in check as well.
'Well done.'
Meanwhile, I actively harassed it. Whenever it aimed its digestive fluid at Adhai's direction, I either shot Psychic Breath or charged at it to disrupt its attack.
"Sss!" "Sss!" "Sss!"
"Swaa!"
When the mother behind them made a sound, the movements of the young changed.
The fearsome aspect of the Hornetling swarm isn't merely their numbers. Their real weapon is their digestive fluid.
Hornetling digestive fluid is on par with that of adults. Considering that the digestive fluid of an adult can melt through my carapace, imagine thousands of them firing simultaneously. Adhai would be wiped out without a trace.
'I can't let this continue.'
The goal of this hunt is not only to take down an Apex predator but also to help Adhai become accustomed to her power. It's not ideal if she gets seriously injured during training.
After confirming that the Hornetlings were moving into position to shoot their digestive fluid, I took out a hidden weapon.
'There's a special remedy for such swarming creatures.'
I prepared Psychic Breath while activating 'Abyssal Hue.'
The carapace and scales covering my body glowed in eerie colors. Purples, greens, and various other colors wriggled as if alive. Sinister, glowing patterns moved along my body towards the tentacle clusters hanging from my neck, back, and jaw.
The grotesquely tainted psychic power gathered in the monster's tentacles. Countless bubbles bubbled up in front of my maw.
The many droplets bloomed like fully opened flowers. While they appeared fantastical, they were essentially like vampires, constantly craving other life forms.
The Psychic Breath reflecting Abyssal Hue was fired.
The Psychic Breath spread across the sky like bubbles shot from a bubble gun. And one of them collided with the Hornetling swarm.
"Sss?!"
The unfortunate creature was quickly sucked into the sphere of chaos. That was just the beginning. A sphere of madness, knowing no satisfaction, voraciously consumed the swarm of Hornetlings.
Since the swarm numbered well over a thousand, the effect wasn't immediately apparent. However, it wasn't long before the swarm seemed to collapse inward, as if it had a vacuum cleaner inside. This was because the Psychic Breath within was devouring them.
Only then did they realize how terrifying the presence near them was. They tried to scatter quickly, but it was far too late.
What could a creature whose body was vanishing into the droplets do? In its extremely hungry state, its body was melting away. In a desperate attempt to survive, they clung to their fellow Hornetlings.
The Psychic Breath and Hornetlings seemed to compete to see who could be the more ravenous predator, consuming their own kind. And this process accelerated over time.
There was no sound during this process. The massacre occurring in silence didn't last long. Within a few minutes, the Hornetling swarm disappeared. The Psychic Breath, having lost its target, dissipated into the air.
｢What just happened?｣ ｢What's going on?｣
"Sha, Shaaak!"
With the Hornetlings vanishing in an instant, everyone showed clear signs of confusion. Adhai tilted her head, and the Hellside Hornet screamed in anger and disbelief.
The Abyssal Hue caused the battle to enter a lull. Sensing the threat from my attack, they merely threatened and didn't charge in.
With the enemy's attacks ceased, Adhai flew over to this side.
｢Me｣ ｢Learn｣ ｢Possible?｣
[ZZZZ ZZ (Probably not)]
｢Disappointed｣
[ZZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Since we're in the middle of a hunt, let's discuss it later)]
｢Agree｣
As a Gallagon, she could replicate similar actions to mine, but I decided to explain that part later.
While the battle paused for a moment, the sky grew increasingly noisy. A massive storm seemed to be approaching; the wind blew fiercely, and the temperature dropped significantly.
[ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Are you okay with the cold?)]
｢White｣ ｢Scales｣ ｢Good｣ ｢No problem｣
Though it hadn't grown much in size, it was still a White Gallagon. It looked perfectly fine.
'Alright. Now for the next step…'
The Hellside Hornet, known for its intelligence, also has a strong instinct for self-preservation. In this unfavorable situation, it had two options.
One was to summon Hornetlings again and cooperate in an attack. Having seen what happened just now, it would likely operate differently this time.
'It might spread them out and strike quickly or use them as bait.'
It would probably try to settle things with Adhai while leaving the young ones behind. Of course, I wouldn't just let that happen.
'Alternatively, it might try to escape.'
Most Apex predators are highly aggressive and avoid fighting only if absolutely necessary.
Except for the Hellside Hornet in front of us.
"Shaaaa."
The brief cry from the creature made its body heat up rapidly. It was trying to awaken the Hornetling eggs stored inside.
Soon, the swarm of Hornetlings burst out from its rear. This time, having laid eggs twice in a short period, there were about half as many as before.
'That doesn't mean it's a small number.'
[ZZZZ ZZZ (Prepare)]
Known for its rapid learning, this creature would likely be more troublesome this time. Just as I was about to warn Adhai and prepare for battle, the creature that had created the Hornetling swarm began to descend towards the ground.
'Oh no!'
Would it fight or flee? The creature chose both options simultaneously. While its offspring bought time, it planned to escape.
The unfortunate creature was swiftly sucked into the sphere of chaos. That was just the beginning. A sphere of madness, knowing no satisfaction, devoured the swarm of Hornetlings.
Given the swarm's size of over a thousand, the effect wasn't immediately noticeable. However, it wasn't long before the swarm seemed to collapse inward, as if a vacuum cleaner had been turned on inside. This was because the Psychic Breath within was consuming them.
Only then did they realize how terrifying the presence near them was. They tried to scatter quickly, but it was far too late.
What could a creature whose body was vanishing into the droplets do? In its extremely hungry state, its body was melting away. In a desperate attempt to survive, they clung to their fellow Hornetlings.
The Psychic Breath and Hornetlings seemed to compete to see who could be the more ravenous predator, devouring their own kind. And this process accelerated over time.
There was no sound during this process. The massacre occurring in silence didn't last long. Within a few minutes, the Hornetling swarm had disappeared. The Psychic Breath, having lost its target, dissipated into the air.
｢What happened just now?｣ ｢What's going on?｣
"Sha, Shaaak!"
With the Hornetlings vanishing in an instant, everyone showed clear signs of confusion. Adhai tilted her head, and the Hellside Hornet screamed in anger and disbelief.
The Abyssal Hue caused the battle to enter a lull. Sensing the threat from my attack, they merely threatened and did not charge.
With the enemy's attacks ceased, Adhai flew over to this side.
｢Me｣ ｢Learn｣ ｢Possible?｣
[Zzz zzz zzz (Let's do as we discussed earlier but with slight adjustments)]
｢How?｣
[ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (I'll hold it)]
｢Agree｣ ｢Hurry｣ ｢Understood｣
With the plan quickly adjusted, Adhai and I moved toward our respective targets. Adhai went after the Hornetlings, while I descended towards the mature creature.
Behind me, a purple lightning storm raged. While it fought with the insects, I folded my wings and closed the distance with the Hellside Hornet.
As I descended, I fired a Psychic Breath at the creature. This time, it was the standard version, not enhanced by Abyssal Hue.
The purple heat ray skimmed the creature's lower body. It would have been a fatal hit if it had connected properly, but the creature dodged at the last moment, causing the attack to miss.
"Shaaa!"
The enraged creature spat digestive acid at the spot where I was falling. As I folded my wings to continue my descent, I quickly extended them slightly. The fall slowed significantly, and the creature's attack merely grazed the underside of my tail.
The searing pain of burning flesh was overwhelming, but seeing that 'Pain Suppression' didn't activate indicated that it wasn't a severe injury. Having evaded the attack, I folded my wings again and increased my descent speed.
When I could distinguish the trees covering the mountain, I had managed to close the distance significantly with the creature. Although I was hit by digestive acid a few more times as I approached, I endured, trusting in the hardness of my exoskeleton.
"Shaak! Saaa!"
Not retreating despite the hits seemed to change the creature's mind. It, which had been passively resisting while falling, suddenly began flapping its wings and flew towards me.
With the creature close, it attempted to slice my neck with its scythe-like arm.
Before being decapitated, I pulled my upper body back. The creature's arm cut through the blade bones attached to my jaw. The hunting emblem's effect had transformed the auxiliary organs into blade bones, but fortunately, my nerves were unharmed.
As I pulled back, the digestive tentacles on my back emerged again and ensnared the creature. The appendages at the end of the tentacles entangled the creature's six legs on its lower body.
While my intention to capture the creature succeeded, it also seemed to have willingly allowed itself to be captured. The creature's arm pierced my abdomen like a spear.
'Gah!'
｢Pain Suppression Activated!｣
I nearly lost consciousness from the tearing pain in my intestines. If I weren't an Amorph and didn't have the Pain Suppression trait, I would have been defeated right there. Even as my mind screamed, my body continued to hold the creature firmly.
'I'll pay you back the same way!'
"Shaaa!"
I opened my mouth wide to bite the creature. It hurriedly used its other arm to block my mouth. Thus, the creature and I fell through the sky, locked in a tight embrace.
"Shaaaa."
As if things were going well, the creature's rear started moving. It seemed to plan to sow maggots into the area where my exoskeleton had melted away from the digestive acid.
But there was something the creature didn't know.
While it was pouring all its attention into killing me, my auxiliary organs informed me of an important fact.
A high-speed aircraft was approaching from above.
And from that aircraft, a purple energy projectile was fired. This energy projectile was much thinner and more refined than what it usually shot.
As if to avoid someone's eyes.
According to Adhai's plan, the creature noticed too late. Seeing the energy projectile heading towards its head, the creature tried to pull away but couldn't, as it was too close to me.
"Shaak!"
The creature, demonstrating sharp judgment, tore off its own limbs. With only its wings remaining, it moved away from me. I also tried to grab its wings with my combat arms, but it was slightly faster.
'But!'
When the purple energy projectile reached above my head, I slightly twisted my head to avoid it.
As a result, Adhai's Psychic Breath collided with the Amorph's head exoskeleton. Whether it was properly condensed to finish the job with a single shot, the intense shockwaves spread throughout the head.
The moment it was hit by the Psychic Breath, the Amorph's latent trait, the Psychic Reflection Armor, automatically activated. Most of the Psychic Power dissipated when destroying the head exoskeleton, but some remained.
And those energies ricocheted in a direction no one except the Amorph could have predicted.
Specifically, towards the direction of the Hellside Hornet's wings.
"Shaak?!"
Losing one wing, the creature staggered and lost control of its body. A second energy projectile flew towards it, as if to confirm the kill.
｢Big One｣ ｢Attack｣ ｢Forgive｣ ｢Impossible｣
The energy projectile incinerated the creature's wings along with its cold, vengeful thoughts.
With both wings lost, the creature could no longer stay in the air and began to fall.
This was not a strategic retreat; it was a genuine fall.
"Shaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaak!"
It had lived a life far removed from falling to its death, but not anymore. With its cries growing fainter, its body became progressively smaller.
And soon, it was no longer visible.
'Phew.'
｢Big One｣ ｢No pain?｣
[ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ (It's okay. You did very well)]
｢Head｣ ｢Hit｣
[ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ (Don't worry)]
The creature that flew towards me asked with concern.
Currently, my body was a mess with melted exoskeleton from the digestive acid, a penetrating wound in my abdomen, severed horns, and a gouged head exoskeleton from the Psychic Breath. Honestly, it would be a lie to say it didn't hurt, but I answered that I was fine.
As long as the brain and heart don't stop, an Amorph doesn't die. With injuries like these, consuming the creature's flesh would be enough for recovery.
I slowly descended to the ground with Adhai.
The area where the creature fell was covered in a sticky liquid. In the center of the bloody crash site lay the creature.
"S, s, s…"
The creature, with only its head remaining from the upper body, was barely breathing. Its lower body was shattered, and dead maggots floated in the pool of blood.
'This is the end.'
Approaching the creature, I used the bone scythe arm on my back to pierce the Hellside Hornet's head.
The creature's upper body trembled before coming to a stop.
——————
After confirming the death of the Hellside Hornet, I retrieved the bone arm.
From the hole in its two-layered eyes, blood and brain matter mixed and flowed.
The maggot-infested, yellowish brain matter, and the head of the insect—though repulsive elements gathered together—appeared merely as a tasty morsel from the Amorph's perspective.
Even though I have a fondness for monsters, the visual was quite unsettling, but I ignored it and plucked the creature's head.
'Should I be glad I am an Amorph?'
The Hellside Hornet was gruesome when alive, but even more horrifying in death.
Among the traits I could acquire from it, there are two useful ones.
'That sturdy arm and the ability to create maggots.'
Both traits are quite valuable on their own, but when fused, they become even stronger than their originals.
The Hellside Hornet's scythe can fuse with the trait 'Harvestor's Jaw.' The original trait changes the scythe into a pair of fangs. According to the setting, the fang's edge is embedded with molecular-sized saw teeth that can destroy any armor. It can even tear through an Ice Horror's head carapace with ease.
Moreover, the oral structure changes significantly from its current form. The scythe fangs are designed to cut an enemy's throat and immediately absorb them.
'So it's advantageous for large-scale harvests.'
This is the most needed trait given the impending war with the Gallagons.
'Considering the future, the ability to create maggots isn't bad either.'
The maggot-generating trait can be fused with 'Human-Faced Demon.' When combined, it transforms into a trait that generates fly monsters with human faces. Like the Human-Faced Demons, only five can be generated at a time, and the number of Human-Faced Flies that can be separated from the body is also five.
The ability to emit paralysis waves is retained, making it possible to execute much more unconventional operations than before.
'It's not useful against Gallagons.'
Gallagons have no ears, so they are unaffected by paralysis waves. Thus, this will only be useful later.
'…Well, if I'm unlucky, neither trait might appear, and something like Vitality might show up instead.'
Insect-type and plant-type creatures commonly have the 'Vitality' trait.
No matter how much the symbol of hunting increases the predation success rate, the traits obtained are random. There's always a chance of getting nothing.
'Enough with the idle thoughts, let's eat quickly.'
Adhai was waiting nearby, observing to see when I would start eating. Although the delicious scent of the blood puddle tempted her to dive in immediately, it seemed like she was holding back for my sake.
'Where should I start?'
I hoped for a good trait as I tossed the Hellside Hornet into my mouth.
'Mmm.'
As I chewed through the creature's head with its bifurcated jaws, an involuntary exclamation escaped me.
The Hellside Hornet was repulsively grotesque, and its taste was as direct as its appearance.
'It's sweet.'
So sweet that it could melt on the tongue.
Comparing the Hellside Hornet's head to real-world cuisine, it felt like chewing a giant caramel made from Nutella.
'Much sweeter than Nutella.'
The soft brown and yellowish slime of the creature's brain matter tasted like a highly concentrated chocolate jam as soon as it entered my mouth. Moreover, the hard exoskeleton of the insect gave a pleasure akin to chewing crackers.
'It tastes unhealthy.'
True to Apex's characteristic of having unique flavors, the Hellside Hornet's head left a strong impression. While the meat of other creatures matched the concept of a meal, this one strongly felt like a snack.
Normally, I would have swallowed it immediately, but the addictive sweetness made me hold it in my mouth longer than usual. I swallowed the entirely liquefied head without any pieces or fragments.
Then, several translucent text boxes appeared before me simultaneously.
｢Big One｣｢Me｣｢Meal｣｢Possible?｣
[ZZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Huh? Eat. It tastes really good.)]
Once I gave my approval, Adhai plunged her tentacles into the blood puddle and began to devour it. While she enjoyed her meal, I reviewed the contents of the text boxes.
[Predation effect activated! Successfully obtained the genetic essence 'Polluted Worm Host.']
[The trait 'Polluted Worm Host' was extracted from the 'Hellside Hornet.']
[Can be fused with the existing 'Human-Faced Demon.']
[New 'Transcendence' materials list: Polluted Worm Host, Tetanus Vine, Tooth Fairy Nest, Human Sacrifice, Red Acid (not obtained)]
'…Didn't expect this.'
A message related to the 'Transcendence' system appeared after a long time. It's the system for creating 'Unique' traits by combining multiple traits.
I had completely forgotten about it since it hadn't appeared in a while.
'Was the Polluted Worm Host a key trait?'
Such a message hadn't appeared when I obtained Tetanus Vine, Tooth Fairy Nest, or Human Sacrifice.
'A new Unique trait.'
Up to now, I had only created Unique traits twice using the Transcendence system. The 'Perfect Organism,' which allows me to use the symbol of hunt, and 'Nightmare Horizon,' which turns spaceships into bio-ships, were the only ones.
The 'Organic Evolution,' which adapts my body to different situations, was a reward from unlocking Transcendence Stage 2, so I got it for free.
In other words, I currently have 3 Unique traits. There are also 2 traits obtained as proof of overcoming strong opponents, but these are not classified as Unique traits.
'So if I get a Unique trait this time, I will have a total of 4?'
Obtaining 4 Unique-level traits will raise the 'Cosmic Monster' type from Stage 0 to Stage 1. The rewards for reaching Stage 1 are currently unknown.
'It's a type that requires 4 hard-to-get Unique traits.'
There might be significant changes related to evolution.
'For now, I can't get it.'
The 'Red Acid' listed last in the materials is a trait that can be obtained from Glacier Fiends. If I had acquired the trait during the last hunt, I might have used the Transcendence system immediately.
'Or maybe not? Because I'm short on traits.'
Currently, the number of traits I have is just enough to maintain the type.
The materials list now includes 4 infection-related traits with the newly obtained Polluted Worm Host and Red Acid, and 1 nest-related trait. Using them carelessly as materials for Unique traits would waste the infection and nest enhancement types.
'I'll gather more traits before combining them.'
Once the battle with the Gallagons is over, I should consider hunting Glacier Fiends or Hellside Hornets in bulk.
Having lost interest in the Transcendence system, I chose to fuse the Polluted Worm Host with the Human-Faced Demon trait.
[The 'Polluted Worm Host' trait has been applied.]
[It can be fused with the existing 'Human-Faced Demon' trait.]
['Polluted Worm Host' and 'Human-Faced Demon' traits have been fused. Evolved into 'Human-Faced Worm Host' trait!]
[Human-Faced Worm Host: Generates flying creatures reflecting the effects of the 'Human-Faced Demon' trait. Up to 5 flying creatures can be generated, and they can only survive within a 200m radius from the host.]
[*Note: The dead have no voice. Therefore, they have no rights.]
As soon as the trait was applied, changes occurred in my body. Among the symbols of hunting, the Human-Faced Demons shifted their positions within my head carapace. Five faces began to twist uncontrollably.
The faces embedded in the carapace split vertically, and insect legs and wings protruded from inside. The insect monsters squirmed as if emerging from cocoons like butterflies. Upon contact with the cold air, their damp bodies dried and hardened. Along with that, their crumpled wings spread wide.
After metamorphosis, their bodies resembled those of Hornets. They had 6 legs with sharp claws, 2 wings, and bodies combining characteristics of mantises and flies, matching the features of Hornets.
The difference was their larger size compared to Hornets and the presence of a sentient head instead of a hornet-like head. They looked like giant insects wearing human masks.
"?!"
"■!"
"■■ ■■!"
"■■!"
"■■■!"
The bugs, or rather the Human-Faced Worms, were horrified when they saw their new forms. They retained some memories of their original selves. Realizing they had become bugs must have been quite a shock for them.
Soon after the Human-Faced Worm Host was applied, the effect of the symbol of hunting also ended. My body shrank again, and the bone sickle arms on my back turned to dust and crumbled.
Along with that, the nests for the Human-Faced Worms moved from the head carapace back onto my back. Instead of the shape with human masks attached, there were now 5 large, tumor-like nests. From now on, this place would be the home for the Human-Faced Worms.
"■■■ ■■ ■■!"
A Human-Faced Worm with Jason's face shouted something. It was glaring at me with a viscous fluid dripping from its eyes.
The Human-Faced Worm Host is a trait that exists even in the game. Jason must have realized what kind of state he had become.
And how much more miserable he would be in the future.
'But I have no intention of showing mercy.'
While others would replace their traits with different genes once their use is over, not so for Jason. He will never be freed until I die.
Ignoring his protests, I summoned the Human-Faced Worms again. They immediately obeyed my orders upon receiving the special signals I sent. The Human-Faced Worms, who had been crying and wailing moments ago, instantly turned blank-faced and returned to their nests.
Having completed the application of the trait and demonstration, I looked back at Adhai. She had neatly finished off the blood puddle and was now wiping the blood off her front legs with her tentacles.
'The wings seem to have changed a bit.'
Aside from the red wave patterns on her body becoming larger and more vibrant, there were no other noticeable changes. There were no signs of evolving into a Black Gallagon.
'Maybe eating Apex is not the condition?'
There was a change, but it wasn't as dramatic as last time. Even if Hellside Hornets are a step below Sky Whales, they are still Apex creatures, so I'm not sure why there isn't a more impressive change.
'It doesn't seem to be due to a lack of quantity.'
[ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ (How's your body?)]
｢Good｣
[ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ (Do you feel stronger?)]
｢Pattern｣｢changed｣｢Strength｣｢Difference｣｢Unknown｣
She knows her pattern has changed but seems unsure if she has grown stronger.
'There's no time to test it.'
It's been just over a day since we left the nest. I don't know how the Odd Grad swarm will move, so it's not good to stay outside any longer.
｢Pattern｣｢Beauty｣｢Good｣
While unsure if she's stronger, she seems to like her beautifully changed wings and tail.
'There's no helping it. I'll stick to the original plan.'
I thought that feeding more Apex might bring about a change, but there was no impressive transformation. If a White Gallagon appears in the Odd Grad swarm, I should ambush it and use it to evolve her.
'Then I'll return…oh.'
I realized there was one last thing I needed to handle before leaving.
[ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Aren't you hungry?)]
｢A little｣
[ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ (That's good)]
｢?｣
She tilted her head in confusion.
There's a place nearby where I can properly fill up. It's the food storage that the Hellside Hornet cherishes.
'If I waste the precious food, she'd dislike it too.'
I led Adhai towards the food storage.
"Ugh!"
Collin Russell, a subordinate of Si-hyun Yujin, let out a pained groan from the impact as he fell to the ground. On the day marking two weeks since he had been trapped in a cocoon and hanging from the ceiling, he finally managed to escape.
For Collin, who had undergone rigorous military training, the past two weeks had been nothing short of a nightmare.
His unit, responsible for supplies within Si-hyun Yujin's exploration team, had been attacked by a gigantic insect-like monster. The creature took him and several of his men to this cave.
He had expected to be killed immediately, but the creature did not do so. Instead, it merely trapped them in cocoons made of mucus secreted from its body.
His men were relieved to have their lives spared. Since they were not killed immediately, they thought that escaping was all that mattered.
However, this was a terrible misjudgment. The monster kept them alive because of its unique feeding habits.
It pickled and consumed his men one by one. Every three days, it dripped some of its digestive fluids into the cocoons. The men trapped inside the cocoons melted away in excruciating pain.
Once the prey, or rather the food, was completely melted, the monster would then thrust its head into the cocoon and suck it up.
Collin and the other survivors trapped in the cocoons could not see this horrifying sight, but they could hear every detail vividly.
The sound of a person slowly melting alive and the sound of the monster drinking up the completely liquefied human.
The men went mad, but Collin, despite his advanced training, was unable to lose his sanity. Even if he wanted to give up and commit suicide, it was impossible.
The cocoon not only confined them but also served as a primitive life-support system. Thus, those trapped inside could not even die.
But Collin did not give up. He continuously scratched at the cocoon with his nails. His blood flowed, and his nails fell off, but he did not stop.
As a result of not giving up in that hellish existence, the sky gave him a chance.
On the 14th day of being trapped in that hell, an earthquake occurred in the cave. The insect-like monster left to investigate the earthquake.
This was his last chance to survive. From the moment the monster's noises stopped, he scratched at the cocoon like a madman. Not only did his nails fall off, but his fingers broke, yet he did not give up.
And finally, he tore through the cocoon and took in the fresh air from outside.
"Cough! Cough…."
Collin, barely managing to get up, coughed violently.
His current condition was very poor. He had received just enough nutrients to barely sustain life, leaving his body emaciated and his hands completely wrecked.
Yet, with nothing but the single-minded determination to escape, he exhibited superhuman strength.
He rummaged through the scattered equipment and remains of victims around him and gathered a flashlight and reinforced suit.
Even if he escaped, he would freeze to death without the reinforced suit. Quickly preparing for his escape, he rushed towards the cave entrance. He had memorized where he was when he was dragged into the cave by the monster.
Thanks to that, with the light from the flashlight, he could navigate through the maze-like cave without getting lost.
"Just a bit more!"
How long had he run?
He could see a faint light in the distance. That was the only exit from hell.
He drew on every last bit of strength he had and ran. It had been a very long time since he had run this fiercely, not since he had stolen and fled with a Gallagon egg.
He had almost died hundreds of times then, but he survived.
Today, he would survive too.
He cleared away the vine-like branches blocking the cave entrance. The icy cold wind greeted him. It was the outside he had yearned for throughout the past two weeks.
The outside looked exactly the same as before he had entered.
White snow, a sky so dark it was impossible to tell day from night, densely packed trees, and even the massive rocks.
"A rock?"
Come to think of it, the rock was something he had not seen before entering here.
Had the monster placed it there to conceal its hideout, or did it fall from the mountain due to the recent earthquake?
The answer was neither.
Because the rock was not moving.
"Hmm?"
What was in front of him was not a rock. The entity he had mistaken for a rock lunged at him.
——————
｢What just happened?｣
[ZZZ ZZZZZ (I'm not sure either.)]
Adhai, who was perched on my back, poked her head out and asked.
As we approached the nest, something suddenly leaped out. Without even checking, I instinctively swiped at it with my winged arm. The impact was so strong that the thing was completely destroyed..
When I checked the corpse, I realized it was a human.
'Why would a person be here?'
He was wearing a specially designed reinforced suit, not so much for combat but more focused on survival functions like insulation and temperature regulation.
Judging by his outfit, he didn't seem to be a soldier but more like a researcher or part of an expedition team, which raised more questions. He couldn't have come here alone, meaning there must be a group or an organization that brought him.
'This planet isn't even on any known routes.'
Jason was only able to find this planet because his fellow players shared its location with him. Even the Cult Empire's routes didn't record this planet. I, too, was only able to come here thanks to Adhai's detailed guidance. Without it, finding this place would have been almost impossible.
In this remote part of the universe, which hardly anyone knows, there's already been the appearance of the StarUnion's Screamers, and now an unidentified human group has shown up.
'Could they have come to capture me?'
Jason mentioned that no other players besides him would come here. He believed he could defeat me on his own.
But that's just his assumption. It's uncertain what his allies truly think. They might have set up a contingency plan in case Jason fails.
If I'm unlucky, I might have to face not only Gallagon but also a new player.
'Let's find out.'
I shoved the mangled corpse into my mouth. As I chewed through the tasteless meat, I activated the 'Faceworm Host' trait.
The genetic information contained in the corpse was transmitted to the organ managing the faceworms. Upon receiving the new data, the organ discarded one of the five previously stored gene sequences. The nest on my back also instantly dissolved the old faceworm, allowing a new one to be born.
'Come out.'
Following my command, the faceworm tore through the membrane of its tumour-like nest and emerged. The creature, with a face identical to the corpse I just consumed, looked around as if it couldn't comprehend its situation.
"What?!"
Realizing it had become a worm, the creature started to panic. I sent a brainwave to control the faceworm, forcing it to calm down.
"I have questions. Answer them."
As my voice, now human, flowed out, the fly-like monster with a human head began to tremble.
"Who are you, and what group are you with?"
"■■ ■son… I-I'm Colin Russell."
The fly monster, now able to speak human language thanks to my permission. Initially it struggled to form words but gradually became more fluent under my control.
"I serve Lady Si-hyun Yujin."
"Si-hyun Yujin?"
"Yes. She came here to fulfil her great mission."
What it said was completely unexpected.
"Si-hyun Yujin?"
It's been a long time since I've heard that name. She was the first formidable opponent I faced after arriving in this world.
'She should be dead.'
Two of my main traits were gained by devouring her: the 'Mimicry Organ' and the 'Monster's Tentacles.'
Now, thanks to the Essence Harvester's Jaw, I only need to consume the head, but back then, I had to eat every bit of my opponent to extract their genetic essence.
'She's definitely dead. So either this is a clone or someone impersonating her.'
When I encountered Si-hyun Yujin, she was disguised as a member of the Space Dock Cartel. As her name suggests, her true identity was a member of the Yujin family, one of the noble capitals of MegaCorp. It's unlikely that they stole the cloning technology from StarUnion, their rival.
'Besides, clones come with a lot of side effects.'
The StarUnion's clones have unstable minds. They're obsessed with their identity and refuse to be controlled by anyone. In fact, in the game, clones are the main enemies of the StarUnion.
Would a noble capital with an ego as huge as theirs invest in something so unreliable? It's highly doubtful.
'So that leaves...'
"She died at my hands a few months ago."
"No, that's impossible. She hasn't taken a single day off since the day she vowed to achieve her great mission."
"Great mission?"
"To reclaim the name of Yujin. To punish the traitor who usurped the head of the family. That is Si-hyun Yujin's destiny."
Hearing this, a thought began to form. Jason had mentioned one of the players was the head of the Yujin family.
'Was it Akira Yujin?'
He insists on using a Japanese name and according to Jason, acts like an old man stuck in a teenager's rebellious phase.
There's only one high-ranking player with those characteristics. If he's the same 'Megacorp ranker' I know, then there must have been a bloody struggle when he took over the family.
'He's skilled but has a truly vile personality.'
Even in the community, people called him a sociopath, so it's likely even worse here.
'I think I'm getting a clear picture of what's going on.'
Before being devoured by me, Si-hyun Yujin was likely the leader of a faction that Akira Yujin purged. The Russell family name is probably a fake name used by the remnants to hide their identity.
Since she died fighting me, it must have been quite difficult for the purged faction.
'So they set up a double.'
The Si-hyun Yujin he's talking about is probably just a stand-in for the dead leader. It seems this impersonator has led her followers to this place.
I asked why they came here.
"Lady Si-hyun Yujin said there is an important relic here."
"A relic? What kind of relic?"
"I don't know. I was only told that it's somewhere in the Black Mountains and that we need to find it."
I asked a few more questions, but nothing else of significance came up. He didn't know anything about the Screamers either.
'That's fine. I got the information I needed.'
Fortunately, it seems there's little connection to the other players. In fact, Si-hyun Yujin's faction, or rather her impersonator's faction, seems to be more aligned with those who oppose the players.
'I'll look into it after I deal with Odd Grad.'
There's one crucial piece of information he didn't mention but I can deduce. To explore this barren planet, a lot of preparation is required—like weapons, equipment, and various supplies needed for survival.
It goes without saying that to transport all this, they would need a ship. And not just any ship, but a fairly large one.
'They're probably just outside the planet, nearby.'
If I can locate their ship, I'll know exactly what Si-hyun Yujin's faction is up to and where they are.
With my thoughts in order, I sent the faceworm back to its nest. Adhai, who had been bored on my back, perked up instantly.
｢Finished?｣
[ZZZ ZZZZ (Sorry, it must have been dull for you.)]
｢It's fine.｣
[ZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ (Let's just take what's inside and get going.)]
I had stumbled upon some interesting information in an unexpected place.
Afterward, Adhai and I raided the food storage of the Hellside Hornet. Thanks to the clues left by Colin Russell, we didn't have to wander through the maze and headed straight for the storage.
I checked to see if there were any other potential informants in the storage, but nothing alive remained. The sealed space was filled only with cocoons brimming with rotting, fermented liquid.
｢This stuff｣｢tastes｣｢good.｣
Adhai stuck a tentacle into one of the cocoons for a taste and immediately grinned from ear to ear. It was the first time I'd seen such an expression on Adhai.
'Is it really that good?'
I plucked one of the dozens of cocoons hanging from the ceiling and took a sip. My eyes involuntarily curled into the same crescent shape as Adhai's.
'This is amazing.'
It tasted somewhat like mojito, but with an even sharper kick. The aroma was exquisite, spreading a refreshing sensation throughout my throat and body. It was so delicious that it made me forget the injuries I had sustained in battle.
[ZZZ ZZZZZ (Should we take some with us?)]
｢Agreed｣｢Agreed｣｢Agreed!｣
I gathered as many cocoons as I could carry. With all my battle arms and corrosive tentacles, I managed to grab about 15 of them. The rest went into Adhai's stomach and mine.
With the Hellside Hornet's storage thoroughly cleaned out, we headed outside.
[ZZZ ZZZZZ (Let's head back.)]
Adhai and I spread our wings wide and soared into the sky. By the time we reach the nest, Odd Grad's forces would likely be making their move.
'I'll recover from my wounds at the nest.'
Then, I'll target the White Gallagon that has gone out to hunt.
'The real question is how to hunt them….'
Even as we flew through the clouds, I kept strategizing about how to battle Odd Grad's forces.
***
The forest, filled with trees boasting countless branches, was ancient. Even the youngest of these trees had lifespans spanning centuries. A beast lay low in this dense woodland.
Its amber eyes, glowing like lanterns, pierced through the thick darkness. The creature had the head of a bird of prey, four legs, and a slender tail, with two sharp horns protruding from its head.
The beast plucked a mushroom-like plant from the ground with its thick front paws and chewed it with its beak.
Even while satisfying its hunger, the beast's gaze remained fixed on one spot.
It was staring at the edge of the forest, where steep rock cliffs and numerous caves could be seen. Most cliffs on this planet were more like crevasses formed by the splitting ice, but this one was different.
Instead of cold air, a warm heat emanated from beneath the rocky cliffs. If anyone with psychic powers were present, they would have sensed the swirling vortex of energy rising from below.
The rocky cliffs the beast was watching was the lair of the Gallagons, the dragon's nest.
"..."
After finishing the plant, the beast Mother of the Sky remained still, focusing on her surveillance. For the past two days, she hadn't moved at all, except for brief moments to eat. She knew how dangerous it was to deal with the Gallagons, so she exercised extreme caution.
Moreover, it wasn't just her, she had companions to protect at her rear.
'Companions...'
Sea Demon, Gallagon, Screamer, and then...
'Amorph.'
She wondered what her real-world self, Choi Seo-ah, would think if she knew she was now moving alongside the Amorph, the 5th-ranked player. She'd probably be furious and tell her not to talk nonsense.
Choi Seo-ah never liked Amorph. To be honest, she was closer to hating him. If she had met him shortly after arriving in this world, she might have tried to kill him.
'Because of that guy, our clan was torn apart.'
It was then that she realized how fragile relationships in the game world could be.
Her clan, Savage Clan, never had many members due to its unique concept. But after the battle with Amorph, she was the only one left. Her friends either quit the game in disgust or joined other clans.
As a result, she was almost forced back into the real world. At the time, Choi Seo-ah was trying to escape reality for various reasons, so she deeply resented Amorph.
'…Isn't it ironic?'
She had nearly quit the game and returned to reality because of him, yet now they were comrades who had survived life-or-death battles together. The most surprising part was that her relationship with Amorph had become even closer than with her former Savage Clan comrades.
Ever since she confided in him recently, she felt much more at ease. He probably doesn't even realize it, though.
'He seems so oblivious.'
If he weren't, he would surely know what Number 26 or Adhai were thinking. Even in the game, his relationships with others seemed very limited.
'Or maybe not?'
Neither Mother of the Sky nor Amorph knew who the other was in reality. Despite growing close, neither had brought up their real-life identities.
'I guess that's only natural.'
She might be strong, agile, and majestic in this world, but the real 'Choi Seo-ah' was nothing special—in fact, she was below average. She had no desire to reveal her true self to anyone. Amorph might feel the same way.
'Judging by his personality, he probably doesn't have any friends… Hm?'
In the middle of mentally criticizing Amorph, she noticed movement in the nest and stopped her idle thoughts.
She focused her gaze. Several Gallagons were emerging from one of the caves in the cliff.
'What's that?'
Two green-scaled Gallagons were carrying another Gallagon to a different cave. The one they were carrying was covered in blood, with not a single limb left unscathed.
'Ham Ort?'
Even in its battered state, she recognized the Gallagon.
The critically injured White Gallagon, with its broken horn and torn wings, was undoubtedly Adhai's mother, Ham Ort. The nearby Green Gallagons roughly dragged Ham Ort into another cave.
'What's going on? Wasn't she supposed to be dead?'
Given the severity of her injuries, it seemed she could die at any moment. The fact that the other Gallagons were treating her so harshly, it did not seem like a late betrayal.
'Was she taken prisoner?'
As she made a mental note of this critical information, something else caught her attention.
Twelve White Gallagons suddenly burst out of another cave. They spread their wings, flew up the cliff, and disappeared into the sky.
'It's begun!'
Seeing them head out for the hunt, she waited quietly for a while. Only when there was no more movement did she cautiously begin to move.
The black sky above the forest trembled.
As if in response, a dense shadow surged from the depths of a cave beneath the cliff. The shadow that rose silently, quickly disappeared into the clouds.
——————
[TL/N: Changed PS-111 dialogues from '[]' to " " because the author changed it in the RAWS.]
"You're back?"
As we returned to the nest, PS-111 greeted us. The Mother of the Sky and Number 26 were nowhere to be seen.
[ZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZZ (Anything happend? Any encounters with enemies?)]
"We did not encounter any 'Gallagon' entities. The main controller is still aboard the Cult cruiser."
[ZZZZ ZZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (That's a relief. Has the Mother of the Sky returned yet?)]
"The 'Middle Child' left for reconnaissance and hasn't returned."
It seemed that PS-111 was holding down the fort at the nest, while Number 26 was protecting the Gallagons on the cruiser. the Mother of the Sky had gone off to monitor the Odd Grad swarm and hadn't come back yet.
I set down a few cocoons I had brought with me.
"What's that?"
[ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZ ZZ ZZZZ (Cocoons made by the Hellside Hornet. Want to try one?)]
"It appears to be an intriguing organic compound."
[ZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZZ (There's liquid inside, just drink it.)]
?Understood."
PS-111 extended its long limbs towards the cocoons. It skillfully used its bladed legs to slice one open and then spread its clawed hand wide, allowing the liquid to spill into it.
Having consumed the StarUnion's energy-absorbing device, the 'Blood River,' it sometimes fed this way, absorbing nutrients. I wondered if it could even taste anything, but it didn't seem to care.
"This contains a high concentration of essential nutrients. Can this organic compound be acquired in large quantities?"
[ZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (This is all I could bring.)]
"I recommend securing more of this organic compound in the future."
The first time I drank the liquid from the cocoon, I felt my wounds heal almost instantly. It wasn't just my imagination, it was as PS-111 analyzed it was rich in nutrients.
It made sense, after all. It was the result of dissolving an entire living organism and then fermenting it.
[ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ (I should take some to the cruiser too.)]
｢Young kin｣｢Food?｣
[ZZZ (Yes.)]
It had been a day and a half since they holed up inside the cruiser. The Gallagons there hadn't ventured out for hunting, as a Green Gallagon pursuit squad could appear in the area at any time.
Although the Cruiser had plenty of combat rations left behind by the Cult crew, they weren't suitable for Gallagons. So they've likely been starving this whole time.
'It'd be a huge loss if they starve to death.'
Bringing the Blue Gallagons was part of a plan to win over the remnants of Adhai and Ham Ort. I hadn't even collected the favour for saving their lives yet, so I wasn't about to let them die here.
Adhai, unaware of my true intentions, seemed pleased when she saw me trying to help them.
｢Young kin｣｢Hunger｣｢Relief｣｢Adult｣｢Task｣｢Me｣｢Adult｣｢Kin｣｢Food｣｢Deliver｣
[ZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZZ (Alright. Just carry this and this.)]
｢No｣｢Problem.｣
Even after leaving PS-111 behind at the nest, Adhai kept chattering away. Just like a few days ago, it seemed like she wanted to be a good role model for the young hatchlings, regardless of her feelings toward the kin who had abandoned her.
'Maybe she's trying to erase the painful memories.'
I engaged in small talk with Adhai as we made our way through the forest. Before long, the ivory-colored cruiser came into view between the trees. I could sense the Cult members implanted with parasites moving around inside.
｢Hello, Big Baby!｣
And then Number 26 sensed me too, sending out a wave of recognition from inside the ship. A moment later, it leaped out of the open hangar.
'Huh?'
The creature approaching me was clutching five Gallagons with blue scales. These Blue Gallagons, each over 2 meters long, were nestled snugly into a massive 10-meter long pink jellyfish-like entity. They all seemed as content as if they were nestled in their mother's embrace.
[ZZZ ZZZZ (What's that?)]
｢The little ones were hungry, so I fed them!｣
[ZZZZZ ZZZ (Fed them?)]
Just as it said, the tentacles of the Blue Gallagons were embedded in the psychic energy radiating from Number 26's body.
'Are they feeding on psychic power?'
The way the slender tentacles periodically puffed up like straws made it clear they were syphoning psychic power.
'Come to think of it, that's not impossible.'
Number 26 had rapidly grown by absorbing the psychic power of the dead Sea Demon. It made sense that it could also transfer that power to the Gallagons, who were also psychic creatures.
'Now that I think about it, their scales seem different…'
Upon closer inspection, the Blue Gallagons cradled in its arms had an odd coloration. While predominantly blue, they had green stripes running through them.
[ZZZZ ZZZ (Were they always like that?)]
｢I don't know.｣
Adhai, noticing something strange as well, tilted her head in confusion while looking at the hatchlings.
At that moment, Ham Ort's group appeared behind Number 26. White Gallagon Nel Germa was among them, along with three Green Gallagons that it had brought along.
I offered the cocoons I had brought to them. Finally noticing the cocoons held by my arms and tentacles, Number 26 asked:
｢What's that?｣
[ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ (Food. I bought it for everyone to eat.)]
｢It's shaped weird.｣
｢Appearance｣｢Funny｣｢But｣｢Delicious｣
Adhai's comment sparked curiosity, and one of the creatures extended its tentacles, wrapping them around a cocoon. It then spread out a part of its body, not the part cradling the Blue Gallagons, like a blanket and swallowed the entire cocoon whole.
Inside its semi-transparent pink body, the cocoon began to dissolve, releasing the liquid within. As it absorbed the liquid, its body shimmered like a mirror ball, glowing brightly.
｢Tasty!｣
Once it started eating, the other Gallagons showed interest in the cocoons as well. The moment they tasted the cocoon, their eyes curved into crescent shapes, a clear sign of delight.
｢Gratitude｣｢Kindness｣｢Not forgotten｣
Nel Germa, who had tasted a bit of the cocoon and then passed it to the hatchlings, expressed thanks to me. The Green Gallagons beside it also sent waves of gratitude my way, albeit with some hesitation.
'Not like I did something worth being thanked for.'
It wasn't exactly a gift. I fully intended to be repaid in the future for what I gave them.
After delivering food to the Gallagons, I returned to the nest to heal my injuries. As night fell, the Mother of the Sky finally returned to the nest.
She brought back two crucial pieces of information.
The first was that the Odd Grad group was making a move. Twelve White Gallagons had left their nest simultaneously.
My plan was to defeat the White Gallagons one by one before they could regroup. Adhai needed to consume a White Gallagon to continue growing.
'I also need the genetic essence of the White Gallagons.'
Everything was going according to plan, except for the second piece of information, which posed a problem.
[ZZZZ ZZZZ (Ham Ort is still alive?)]
｢Yes. I saw the other Gallagons carrying her away.｣
When everyone had gathered, she nodded her head in agreement.
According to the Mother of the Sky, Adhai's mother was still alive. To be more accurate, she was barely clinging to life.
Upon hearing the news of Ham Ort's survival, I could sense Nel Germa and the three Green Gallagons growing uneasy. She was their former leader, so naturally, they wanted to rescue her.
'Hmm.'
The situation had become more complicated.
For starters, I wasn't the leader of the Gallagons hiding in the cruiser. I hadn't defeated their leader in combat. While I had protected them and provided them with food, that alone wasn't enough to make them turn their backs on their former leader.
'Given time, they'll likely follow me….'
But that's a meaningless assumption for now since it won't happen immediately.
Leaving Ham Ort to die is problematic too. She's the only Gallagon who knows Adhai's secret. There's still much valuable information to be extracted from her.
[ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ (What if we rescue her after we take down the others, before attacking the nest?)]
｢I'm not sure. Her injuries seem severe. I don't know if she'll hold out that long.｣
Moreover, we don't have much time. The Snow-White Queen has been left in a severely injured state. While White Gallagons are resilient creatures and could last a day or two, beyond that, it's uncertain.
'What should we do?'
The truth is, the answer to this dilemma is already clear.
The nest is heavily guarded by numerous enemies. Attempting to rescue Ham Ort would mean engaging in an all-out battle, something we can't afford given our current disadvantage.
However, openly declaring that we're abandoning Ham Ort is another issue altogether.
Doing so could negatively impact Nel Germa and the Green Gallagons. While they've agreed to follow my lead, such a decision might cause them to resist or harbor resentment.
'It's already challenging enough to fight with everything we've got. An uncertain stance would only make things worse.'
As I was pondering the best course of action, Adhai approached me.
｢Great Elder｣｢Ham Ort｣｢Worry｣｢Unnecessary｣
[ZZZ (Hmm?)]
｢I｣｢Confirm｣｢Ham Ort｣｢Strong｣｢Compared to｣｢Others｣｢No Comparison｣｢Pain｣｢Overcome｣｢Can｣｢I｣｢Believe｣｢Survive｣｢Will｣
Adhai assured me that Ham Ort was strong enough to survive.
｢Daughter of the Meteor｣｢Correct｣
｢Agree｣
The other Gallagons nodded in agreement with Adhai, who was regarded as Ham Ort's daughter and the savior of the Gallagons.
[ZZZZ (Are you sure about this?)]
Understanding the intent behind my question, Adhai nodded confidently.
｢It's okay｣
[ZZZZ (Alright then.)]
I knew why Adhai had acted this way. Being sharp, she must have noticed my unease and took it upon herself to reassure the other Gallagons.
However, despite her words, there was a hint of anxiety in her eyes. It was likely the lingering mix of love and resentment towards her mother.
'Ham Ort needs to survive until Adhai's heart finds peace.'
The decision on Ham Ort's fate wasn't in the hands of the Black Dragon Odd Grad, but rather in those of his abandoned daughter, Adhai.
Thanks to her, our next move was clear: we will take down the White Gallagons that had gone hunting and then rescue Ham Ort as quickly as possible.
｢Nel Germa｣｢Knows｣｢Hunting grounds｣
[ZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Alright, let's head there first.)]
For the hunt against the White Gallagons, Adhai, I, Number 26, and Nel Germa would be the ones going. the Mother of the Sky continued her role as the scout, and PS-111 was tasked with guarding the cruiser.
[The Cult's fleet system is complex, but with the crew in place, there should be no issues operating it.]
[ZZZ ZZZ ZZZZZ (Still, just in case, I'm counting on you.)]
[Understood.]
With all preparations complete, we were ready to move.
Before we left, I called Mother of the Sky aside. It felt a bit unsettling to send her off again right after she had just returned.
｢No need to apologize. It's much easier to do this than to fight while flying.｣
[ZZZZ ZZZZ (I'm glad to hear that.)]
｢I've lost count of how many apologies I've heard from you, Amorph.｣
[ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZZ (The way you say it makes it seem like you're truly okay with this.)]
｢Oh, and if you manage to get a Gallagon heart, save it for me.｣
[ZZZ ZZZ (I will. Stay safe.)]
She gave a wink in response and vanished into the darkness.
After sending her off, I lifted Number 26 onto my back and took to the skies. Adhai and Nel Germa were waiting, and they nodded slightly as I approached.
｢Hunting ground｣｢This way｣
Following Nel Germa's lead, we moved swiftly. In this operation, time was crucial, so we pushed ourselves to be as fast as possible.
We flew in silence for a long time, cutting through the dark, cloud-filled night sky. As we approached our destination, Nel Germa, who was leading, began to slow down.
｢Nearby｣｢Hunting ground｣
｢I｣｢Sense｣｢One of our kin's｣｢Power｣
[ZZZ ZZZ (How close are we?)]
Adhai mentioned that the energy was faint and the distance significant, so we all slowed our pace.
'Only one enemy? That's lucky.'
Usually, they move in groups of two or three, so this was unexpected. Still, I instructed the two Gallagons to stay vigilant and keep an eye out for anything unusual.
As we moved through the clouds, I began to sense the Psychic Power closer to the ground. The enemy seemed to sense us as well, suddenly picking up speed.
'They've noticed us.'
[ZZ ZZ ZZ (Let's strike now.)]
｢Agreed.｣
[ZZZ (Hold on tight.)]
｢Got it!｣
I warned Number 26 as I adjusted my wing angle for a steep dive. Nel Germa and Adhai, without missing a beat, followed close by my side.
Below us, a white figure darted across the pitch-black forest at a terrifying speed. The White Gallagon was trying to escape.
I anticipated its trajectory and fired a regular Psychic Breath in its path. The purple energy gathered in the tentacles around my head, neck, and under my jaw, forming a focused beam.
The beam tore through the ground and trees with a thunderous crack. The White Gallagon narrowly avoided the blast and immediately tried to use its hyper-acceleration ability to escape.
But it wasn't just me hunting tonight. Nel Germa, at my side, unleashed two more Psychic Breaths.
The enemy skillfully evades one, twisting its body mid-air. The second beam nearly clipped its wing, but the White Gallagon managed to deflect it with a counterattack— a Psychic Breath of its own.
The collision of our powers sent shockwaves rippling through the sky, the impact echoing like thunder all around us.
The White Gallagon, realizing Nel Germa was more powerful, attempted to negate the Psychic Breaths and flee again. However, Adhai had closed in and began to unleash rapid-fire energy blasts, reminiscent of a machine gun. The White Gallagon couldn't dodge this time; three of Adhai's Psychic Breaths tore through one of its wings, leaving it unable to fly and crashing into the forest.
'Got it.'
Confirming its fall, I landed in the forest with Adhai and Nel Germa. Among the shattered trees, the white Gallagon lay incapacitated.
'Smaller than expected.'
It was bigger than a Green Gallagon or Adhai but significantly smaller compared to Nel Germa. It seemed recent to its White Gallagon form.
'This shouldn't affect Adhai's growth.'
Feeding it to Adhai would confirm everything.
I approached the fallen Gallagon from the Odd Grad group. It only glared at me, showing no signs of immediate aggression.
Perhaps it feared us. Its wings were broken, but other parts seemed relatively intact. Given the aggressive nature of Gallagons, it should have attacked us by now.
'A cautious individual?'
At that moment, A Gallagon directed a thought wave at me.
｢Are you the black Gallagon?｣
[ZZZ (Yes?)]
｢Trap｣｢caught.｣
'A trap?'
As soon as I sensed its thought wave, I felt a shiver run through my body. The air thickened, and the entire sense of the Amorph's transcendental feeling triggered an alarm. This intense feeling was something I had only experienced once before.
'When the Imperial Carrier fired the Cosmic Bolt.'
The sense of impending doom I felt was reminiscent of when I faced the absolute power that could scorch entire planets.
This meant that a being of absolute power had its sights set on my life.
The danger I sensed wasn't something I alone perceived.
｢Black Gallagon?｣｢Great One!｣｢Danger!｣
｢Leader｣｢Near｣｢Danger!｣｢Danger!｣｢Danger!｣
Looking back, I saw Adhai and Nel Germa in a state of panic, trembling uncontrollably.
Even Number 26 was silently unleashing its Psychic Power, generating fins and tentacles, and activating its 'Deep Sea Terror' trait.
'Number 26?'
Despite its size being unchanged on my back, it was fully armed. I had never seen Number 26 so alert before.
｢Odd Grad!｣｢Great Odd Grad!｣｢Arrived!｣
As Nel Germa screamed out in thought waves, a colossal shadow emerged beyond the stormy clouds.
The shadow of a gigantic black dragon with two wings.
'Great Odd Grad!'
The king of the Gallagon nest and ruler of this planet.
Adhai's father and the Black Dragon, Odd Grad, had arrived.
——————
The dark presence emerges from the clouds, revealing itself. Even from a distance, an overwhelming sense of dread is undeniable.
With wings more than twice the size of its body, it descends upon the forest.
As I draw closer, my auxiliary organs start to hum with a sharp buzz. The immense psychic power radiating from the Black Gallagon is affecting them.
This is the strongest Apex I've ever faced.
The black dragon, Odd Grad, stands before me.
｢Be careful, big guy｣
Number 26 warns me from atop. The tension in its voice is palpable.
I know all too well how powerful the Black Gallagon is. I've defeated this creature dozens of times in the game.
However, there's one thing I didn't anticipate—why is he here?
'How did he find me?'
While the Mother of the Sky monitored her nest, she didn't see any creatures entering. The Green Gallagon tracking team hasn't returned either, so the chance that he knew of my existence seems slim.
'Could it be that the Green Gallagon recorded in the cruiser's logs informed him?'
They might have seen me fighting the cruiser and reported back to Odd Grad.
But there's still a lingering question. The White Gallagon with the broken wing definitely said something about a 'trap.'
This means the creature has already figured out my plan to strike while the White Gallagon is out hunting.
Odd Grad's unexpected appearance has thrown my plans into chaos.
I'm not in peak condition right now. Though my physical wounds have mostly healed, my special abilities are compromised. My size augmentation from 'Symbol of Hunt' and 'Organic Evolution,' as well as the 'Revenant Organ,' are all sealed.
And my companions are scattered. I only have Number 26, Adhai, and Nel Germa with me to face this beast.
Even in my best form, this would be a tough fight. But in my current state, calling this situation dire would be an understatement.
'...Stay calm.'
Now is not the time for negative thoughts. Worrying won't change anything. What's more productive is figuring out how to survive against this formidable opponent right in front of me.
I watched him closely, keeping my composure. he landed on the ground and was staring me down without making any sudden moves.
He seemed to be gauging the situation, just like I was.
'...He's smarter than he looks.'
Based on its appearance, he was the largest Gallagon I'd seen here, almost as big as I get when I use the Symbol of Hunt to increase my size.
His body was long and serpentine, but not slender. His neck, chest, waist, and tail were all packed with solid muscle, covered by scales that resembled black obsidian.
He had six horns curled like those of a goat or ram, and long, tendril-like whiskers draped from his mouth.
At first glance, he might have seemed as majestic as an Eastern dragon, but that thought never crossed my mind. The reason was his eyes.
Ham Ort, Adhai, and Nel Germa all have beautiful, amethyst-like purple eyes. This creature also had purple amethyst eyes, but the feeling they gave off was entirely different.
Odd Grad's eyes exuded nothing but savagery and cunning. They were worlds apart from the noble and slightly playful gaze of Adhai.
'A ruthless adversary.'
It would be wiser to consider him more like a player than a regular creature.
'I've heard he's quite old, but what does that mean?'
In the game, ageing rarely affected NPCs. Gallagons with the same color typically didn't vary much.
But this is reality. Even Ham Ort, another White Gallagon, is stronger than Adhai or Nel Germa. I don't know how aging has affected the Black Dragon Odd Grad, but it doesn't seem to have weakened him.
'It must have overpowered Ham Ort, yet it doesn't have a single scratch on him.'
There were scars on his black scales, but they weren't from Ham Ort. In other words, he subdued Ham Ort without sustaining any injuries.
'Hmm?'
As I continued to observe him, I noticed something unusual. The creature was wearing a ring with a gemstone on its front paw.
'I've never seen equipment like that before?'
It wasn't something from the game. The gemstone had been refined, indicating it had undergone expert craftsmanship.
'I'll need to be cautious.'
Just as I noticed something peculiar about him, the creature also seemed to detect something unique about me. He tilted his head curiously as he observed Number 26 on my back.
Whether it's a Black Gallagon or a Sea Demon, they're all powerful psychic creatures. They seemed to recognize the danger in each other.
Finally, the creature must have decided he was superior to Number 26, as he began to move. The psychic power that had been flowing like liquid over his black scales quickly converged toward his head.
'He's coming.'
The first attack was a psychic breath. He rapidly charged up and unleashed a dark purple beam, almost black.
I spread my wings and lifted myself into the air. The beam grazed the lower part of my exoskeleton, leaving no trace as the impacted area evaporated instantly.
'…Reflecting it won't work.'
The exoskeleton disintegrated before the psychic-reflective armour could activate, rendering it useless. As I dodged the attack by flying upward, I attempted to charge toward the creature.
At that moment, he lifted his head while continuing to fire the psychic breath.
'Tch.'
With an excess of psychic power, he didn't stop the attack but kept spewing it out continuously. The beam, capable of consuming everything in its path, followed close behind me. I beat my wings harder, increasing my flight speed.
While I was keeping its attention, Adhai and Nel Germa tried to attack Odd Grad. Nel Germa unleashed an energy blast first, but something intercepted it.
The White Gallagon with the broken wing countered with its own breath, cancelling out Nel Germa's attack.
｢Traitor.｣
｢Nel Germa.｣｢Ham Ort.｣｢Serve.｣
｢Traitor.｣｢Death.｣
｢Kin.｣｢Dealt with.｣｢Black kin.｣｢Support.｣
｢Me.｣｢Understand.｣
While Nel Germa kept the White Gallagon occupied, Adhai came to support me. She manoeuvred around, flanking Odd Grad from behind, and unleashed a psychic breath. The barrage of violet energy blasts, now her signature technique, hurtled towards Odd Grad's head.
Odd Grad briefly halted its breath attack and raised its wings to shield its head. Adhai's energy blasts struck the wings, causing an explosion.
However, aside from some slight scorching on the outer edges, the wings remained intact.
｢Sturdy!｣
｢Odd Grad.｣｢Speaks.｣｢Arrogant one.｣｢Begone.｣
Odd Grad sent a chilling telepathic wave as he unleashed another psychic breath. This time, the beam shot out much faster than the one aimed at me earlier.
'A trick!'
He had deliberately fired the first shot slowly when attacking me.
｢!｣
[ZZZZ (Watch out!)]
It was a close call. If Adhai had been even slightly larger or slower, she would have been split in two by the beam.
Though it narrowly dodged the attack, the tip of her tail was seared off. The pain caused it to falter momentarily.
Just as Odd Grad adjusted his breath to finish off Adhai, I unleashed the energy I had been gathering while Adhai bought me time.
The force, empowered by the tendrils of the White Gallagon, surged toward Odd Grad's head. Sensing that his wings wouldn't be enough to block the attack, he turned its head and fired the beam at me instead.
The nearly black beam unleashed by Odd Grad and the vivid purple beam I fired clashed, creating a violent struggle between the two forces. The sheer impact of the collision split the ground between us, and trees shattered, scattering into the air.
'…He's strong!'
I expected the Black Gallagon to be a formidable foe, but I hadn't anticipated this level of power. While our raw output seemed evenly matched, the amount of energy Odd Grad had stored was on a completely different level. He was almost akin to a fully matured Amorph.
As I concentrated on maintaining my beam, I kept an eye on Adhai. Despite the agony of her burning tail, she managed to retreat to the skies.
Once I confirmed Adhai was safe, I ceased my breath attack. The moment our beams stopped clashing, Odd Grad's psychic breath surged toward me.
Instead of ascending, I lowered my body close to the ground. As expected, Odd Grad assumed I would rise and directed his beam upward.
With his attack misdirected, I took the opportunity to open my mouth wide, splitting my lower jaw into two. From deep within, I expelled a mass of green fungal spores.
As the acidic spores flew toward Odd Grad, he spread his wings wide and shook them violently. The force of the movement scattered the spores in mid-air, creating a small whirlwind.
'Clever beast.'
True to his age and experience, Odd Grad knew how to utilize his body effectively. Of course, I hadn't expected the spores to cause him much harm, but that bought me the time I needed.
Using the distraction, I pushed off the ground with my tail and leaped upward. Odd Grad attempted to fire another beam at me.
But before he could, the scattered fungal spores began to gather and fly toward him again.
｢What?｣
Odd Grad quickly fired a short burst of its psychic breath at the moving spores, as if they were attached to invisible strings.
While his attention was diverted, I soared high into the sky.
After a few powerful flaps to gain altitude, Adhai flew over to me.
[ZZZZ (Are you okay?)]
｢Pain.｣｢But.｣｢Endure.｣
Though the exchange was brief, it was enough to confirm that Odd Grad was no ordinary opponent. Among the beings I've encountered in this world, he ranked in the top five in terms of combat sense.
And it wasn't just that. As expected of a Black Gallagon, his combat abilities were top-tier. In a contest of raw power, I would surely lose.
'I need to win with unconventional attacks.'
I knew what traits and techniques a Black Gallagon possessed, but the same couldn't be said for Odd Grad. He had no knowledge of Amorph, nor did he know about me—what powers I wielded, or how I intended to use them.
[ZZZ ZZZ (I need your help)]
｢Sure! Leave it to me!｣
Number 26, perched on my back, wiggled its tendrils in anticipation.
Just then, a psychic breath shot up from below. I dodged, only to see Odd Grad flying toward us.
｢Insignificant creatures.｣｢You won't escape.｣
The horns on his head glowed with a violet light as he unleashed another breath attack. But this time, the light wasn't just from the psychic energy.
[ZZ ZZZ (Watch out above)]
｢Above?｣
As Odd Grad's horns lit up, the clouds above began to swirl unnaturally. Moments later, massive tornadoes descended from the sky, accompanied not only by hail and snow but also by violet lightning.
It was 'Maelstrom', a powerful psychic technique that only a Black Gallagon could use. True to his name, he conjured a destructive psychic storm.
[ZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ (Keep moving to avoid the lightning)]
｢Understood.｣
I warned Adhai and quickly resumed my movement. Just as I did, a bolt of violet lightning struck the spot where I had been moments before.
Staying still under the influence of Maelstrom was not an option. The lightning, slightly weaker than the psychic breath but still lethal, would relentlessly target the caster's enemies.
Odd Grad, having created a localized weather anomaly, flapped his wings and chased after us. One of his psychic breaths grazed the tip of my wing.
Feigning an attempt to escape, I gradually slowed down. Though it increased the likelihood of getting hit, I had Number 26 with me for a reason.
Number 26 subtly adjusted the angle of my psychic breath, ensuring it was just enough to avoid detection by Odd Grad. As a result, I managed to narrowly dodge the enemy's attacks or only suffered minor burns to my exoskeleton.
｢Wretched insect!｣
Odd Grad's thoughts echoed with irritation as I continued to deftly evade its strikes.
'Now.'
I had been waiting for this moment, hoping to provoke an emotional response from Odd Grad. While dodging his attacks, I readied my psychic breath. When the energy was nearly fully charged, I suddenly folded one wing, sharply altering my direction. My body flipped sideways from the momentum, and in that instant, the creature within me unleashed the power of the dragon once more.
Odd Grad, seemingly anticipating my approach, remained composed and countered my breath with his own.
Another fierce clash ensued, but Odd Grad still appeared confident. The tentacles hanging from his mouth radiated an endless stream of power, and his amethyst-like eyes gleamed with derision.
While Adhai had a unique ability, ordinary Gallagons could not move while releasing a psychic breath. Though I could adjust the angle of my breath, it came at the cost of speed.
Odd Grad was undoubtedly aware of this. To him, I must have seemed foolish for engaging in a power struggle in the middle of the Maelstrom.
Just as I expected, a violet lightning bolt descended from above, aiming directly for me and Number 26. The moment it was about to strike, a new energy projectile came hurtling from afar. The bolt exploded upon impact with the projectile, dispersing the energy just above my head.
[Pain Nullification activated!]
Though the psychic lightning pierced through my exoskeleton and seared my insides, the pain was bearable. The lightning summoned by Maelstrom was less potent than a direct psychic breath, and with Adhai's intervention, its destructive power had been further reduced.
The psychic energy that struck me, triggered the activation of my psychic reflection armour. The energy composing the lightning bolt scattered in all directions like fireworks, losing its cohesion and potency.
｢How dare you.｣｢Such petty interference.｣
To a Gallagon sensitive to psychic power, the sudden explosion was akin to a flare launched by a fighter jet, momentarily disorienting Odd Grad.
I successfully disoriented Odd Grad's vision and immediately activated "Abyssal Hue" folding all my wings tightly against my body. My form plunged downwards, allowing Odd Grad's psychic beam to pass just above my head.
Two of my horns snapped off once more, but I didn't care. Having dodged the attack, I spread my wings again, diving beneath Odd Grad.
｢Cheap tricks!｣
Odd Grad's horns gleamed as he tried to summon another bolt of lightning to strike down from above. But that was exactly what I anticipated.
'The real attack is still to come.'
As Odd Grad briefly paused to focus on controlling the lightning, I unleashed my hidden weapon. A mass of bubbles, imbued with the "Abyssal Hue", burst forth, composed of swirling greens, purples, and all manner of chaotic hues. These weren't just ordinary bubbles—they were empowered Watchers of Dread, hurtling towards Odd Grad.
If Odd Grad tried to destroy them, it would only spell his doom. The moment one of those bubbles burst, Number 26 would guide the energy right back at him rendering him powerless. Even a single touch would incapacitate Odd Grad.
Just as predicted, Odd Grad's reaction was immediate. He reflexively turned his attention to the bubbles, his tendrils glowing a deep purple as he prepared to fire another psychic breath. But something changed in an instant—his eyes flashed with confusion.
In a blink, the tendrils returned to their natural color, and Odd Grad frantically beat his wings, retreating at full speed. The composure he had earlier was nowhere to be seen, replaced by the urgency of a creature faced with a deadly threat.
Number 26 tried to manipulate the bubbles to stick to Odd Grad, but he had already pulled back far enough to evade them.
The plan to incapacitate Odd Grad with the enhanced Watchers of Dread had failed.
｢You wretch!｣
Odd Grad's psychic waves lashed out from a distance, tinged with anger. But beneath that fury, I sensed other emotions—caution and fear.
'How?'
Odd Grad had been ready to attack the bubbles with his breath, even gathering the energy for it. Yet, at the very last moment, he had stopped and retreated, as if knowing the danger my attack posed.
'...Did he recognize the Watchers of Dread? Could he know something about me?'
I couldn't understand how Odd Grad knew to avoid the "Abyssal Hue", but one thing was now clear
Fighting this Black Gallagon was going to be anything but easy.
——————