Chapter 165
Chapter 165
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 165
Chapter Title: Ep. 165
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Ouch, th-this is too cold!"
"Cold""Cold""Cold"
As expected, Adhai and Sky Mother started shivering violently in the fierce cold. It might've been a bit better if their bellies were full, but right now, everyone was starving.
'Keeping the temperature stable in this ship is impossible.'
Once the erosion tentacles were released, the ship was completely wrecked. Not just the engines—even the metal walls making up the hull were all corroded without a single intact piece. If a storm hit in this state, the ship would shatter to bits.
'Gotta hurry and find food and shelter.'
[Zuzzuz zuzzuz (Take care of the kids)]
"Leave it to me!"
I entrusted them to No. 26, the most intact of the bunch, and headed out of the ship.
An ice plain covered in snow greeted me. As I moved my combat arms, the thickly piled snow was swept away, revealing the ice beneath.
Perfectly smooth ice, like a mirror, without a single speck. Reflected on its surface was my pure form, untouched by the 'Organic Evolution' trait.
Six massive horns and an elongated head reminiscent of a crocodile or large theropod dinosaur. Below it, countless monster tentacles fluttered like a mane.
Beneath the wind-tossed tentacles was a body wrapped in sturdy carapace and composite scales, along with six combat arms and two smaller ones at the chest.
Finally, though not reflected in the ice, my massive, long tail replacing the lower body was half-buried in the snow. Only the pincer at the tip and the stingers attached to it poked slightly above the surface.
I charged across the snowy plain, hauling my colossal 27-to-28-meter frame. The tracks I left vanished in moments thanks to the ceaseless snow and hail. Without my auxiliary organs, I'd have been lost in no time.
'That mountain range in the distance—head there? No, too far. Instead...'
I stopped running and looked down at my feet.
Among the creatures inhabiting this ice planet, some lived beneath the glacial surface. Even under ice this impossibly thick, life persisted.
'There's empty space under this ice.'
Confirming it with my auxiliary organs, I raised the pincer at my tail's end high. Focusing with the sensation of tensing every muscle in my body.
Then, the scales and carapace covering me began glowing red-hot. It was the effect of the 'Heat Emission' trait acquired from the old Star Union supply ship.
'Originally a cold-blooded thermoregulation trait.'
Unlike the original, which merely warmed the body, when an Aimorph acquires it, we can convert internal energy into intense heat like this.
The ice was dozens of meters thick and insanely tough. My physical strength could dig through it bare-handed without issue, but it'd take too long.
'Energy's low right now, but...'
To secure shelter and food ASAP, investing energy now was the best call.
Steam rose as the ice beneath me melted. The thickest parts of my carapace—the pincer and head plating—glowed cherry-red like heated iron.
'Good enough.'
I slammed the superheated, now golden pincer down onto the ice. The impact unleashed tremendous heat and steam.
With a sizzling hiss, the thick ice melted rapidly. It somehow reminded me of pork belly hitting a hot grill.
'Heh. Guess I'm pretty hungry.'
Licking my chops, I pulled my tail from the hole. Inside the deep pit was only darkness.
Using my combat arms and blunt claws scattered across my body, I dug downward. The heat radiating from me and the half-melted ice walls made widening the hole easy.
After burrowing hundreds of meters deeper, the space suddenly widened.
I'd reached the underground cavity beneath the ice. Hanging from the ice ceiling, I scanned below.
No light penetrated, so nothing was visible, but my auxiliary organs revealed the layout perfectly. The temperature down here was warmer than above, and the cavern floor held soil mixed with ice.
'Living creatures too.'
From the darkness ahead came the wriggling signs of life. Using the suction cups on my finger undersides, I moved upside-down along the ceiling.
Not far from my position was a cluster of creatures. They were emitting unique sonar pulses, staying vigilant.
'Cave Ghouls.'
Cave Ghouls dwelled in underground caverns or deep caves. They looked like a bat-ape hybrid scaled up to about 3 meters.
With vision fully degenerated, they identified objects via special ultrasound like bats. They surely knew by now that something was in the cavern.
'Super alert.'
A near-30-meter monster crawling on the ice ceiling would be terrifying. Any closer, and they'd all bolt.
'But.'
I had a way to catch them.
The five faces dormant on my back—the Man-Faces trait.
I mainly used Man-Faces to acquire enemy intel and deceive, but it was combat-useful too. It could emit powerful ultrasound to paralyze foes.
'Especially devastating against ones with keen hearing.'
No earless creatures would thrive in total darkness like this. I awakened all five faces.
Bound to my will, the five faces snapped their eyes open wide. Black veins bulged on their pallid visages.
Then, as they gaped their mouths, vortex-shaped secondary maws protruded. From those tooth-studded orifices blasted potent ultrasound waves.
Confined space amplified the attack beyond normal. My own scales vibrated from it—the effect was immense.
As planned, chaos erupted among the Cave Ghouls below.
"Kyaek! Keeeaak!"
"Kek!"
"Keeeaak!"
Their sonar organs must've burst; thick blood reeked.
Equivalent to a human losing sight and hearing simultaneously. The pack panicked, turning on each other.
Confirming the confusion, I leaped toward the floor. My near-30-meter bulk hurtled through the air, crashing atop them.
"Kwaak?!"
"Kik!"
Six Cave Ghouls perished instantly under me. The survivors charged. No sound reached me, but the impact of my landing must've drawn them.
One leaped onto my back, hammering my backplate with both fists.
Cave Ghouls had strength to shred mid-grade reinforced suits bare-handed.
'That's why they're popular Hulk Mutant material.'
A blow that'd pulverize another creature outright. But my carapace didn't even scratch.
"Ke, keeak?"
Expecting flesh and blood, the odd sensation puzzled it.
I bent my lower body and tail backward. The tail pincer seized it.
"Kek!"
A squeeze, and it split in two limp halves. Hot blood and guts spilled across my back.
After that, it was a breeze. The ten Cave Ghouls were all dead in minutes.
Blood scent filled the cavern, but no new creatures emerged.
Judging it safe, I finally relaxed.
Hot blood and fresh meat aromas tickled my auxiliary organs through the chill air. Starving amid such temptation, my mouth watered involuntarily.
'Just one before I go?'
No pursuit—who'd care if I snacked?
Many tempting thoughts, but I turned away. Scaling the wall back the way I'd come.
Emerging from the long ice tunnel, nothing had changed. Endless snow and hail, winds sharp enough to slice flesh—literally.
In this unchanged world, I relied on auxiliary organs to locate the ship.
Mingled in the blade-like gale was a faint metallic tang. I followed the ship's scent.
Soon, a snow mound protruded bluntly. In mere moments, snow had buried the ship completely.
Up close, No. 26's waves emanated from within.
"Big Baby?"
[Zuz zuzzuz zuzzuz zuzzuz zuzzuz (Yeah. Found food and a safe spot)]
"Whoa! You're so fast! Amazing!"
[Zuz zuzzuz (Follow me)]
Moments later, metal crunching echoed from inside the mound, then it exploded outward in a spray of snow. Atop the white expanse stood No. 26, bulked up to 10 meters.
"Ugh, please say it's not far."
"Cold""Hungry""Cold!""Hungry!"
Looking closely, it clutched Sky Mother and Adhai tight. The two were buried deep in its soft, slime-like body, heads poking out, shivering.
From experience, No. 26 maintained constant body temp regardless of surroundings. Riding its head or shoulders gave a pleasantly cool feel.
'In this freezing hell, it might even feel warm?'
Any longer out here, and they'd both get hypothermia. I led them to the pit I'd dug.
As No. 26 and I pushed through the blizzard, Adhai suddenly fired warning thought waves.
"Big Adult!""Little Adult!""Danger!"
[Zuuuuh (Adhai?)]
"Me""Kin""Detected""Sky""Flying""Pursuing"
"Huh? Feels like Little Baby coming from that way. Weird."
Shivering, Adhai broadcasted. No. 26 echoed similarly.
Kin?
I looked skyward. Beyond the relentless snow and hail, only thick gray clouds.
I urgently called to Sky Mother.
Sensing trouble, she looked up. Her amber eyes scanned slowly, locked on the mountains, then dilated sharply.
"White Galleron! It's flying this way!"
[Zuzzuz zuz zuzzuz zuz (Hurry. Everyone on my back)]
Adhai's shakes suggested no friendly intent. I hoisted No. 26—clutching the kids—onto my body.
Confirming its tentacles gripped tight, I bolted at full speed.
[Zuzzuz (Hold on tight)]
"Whoooaaa!"
Mobilizing all three pairs of combat arms and body claws, my frame shot forward like cannon fire.
Running, I asked Sky Mother.
[Zuz zuzzuz zuz (How close is it?)]
"At that speed? Five minutes? No, three at most before it passes overhead."
A White Galleron could spot us from high altitude. Distance hid us for now, but patrolling nearby would reveal us quick.
'Tracks vanish fast in the snow.'
Not the pit. Its wide mouth would take ages for snow to cover.
'I have to block it.'
Reaching the gaping hole to the depths, I shoved No. 26 inside first.
[Zuz zuzzuz zuz zuzzuz zuz (Fill bellies first once down there)]
"Big Baby not coming?"
[Zu zuzzuz zuz zuzzuzuz (Got stuff to do. Be down soon)]
Reassuring No. 26, I covered the entrance with my body. Extended erosion tentacles dragged nearby snow atop me.
Only after piling snow thick did I retract the tentacles.
All set, I held my breath. Then, from above came an alien wind-whoosh.
Faint and tiny, but unmistakably wingbeats.
The sound waxed and waned slowly.
'It's here.'
The great beast called the dragon of the cosmos circled my position.