Chapter 188
Chapter 188
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 188
Chapter Title: Ep. 188
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'Ah.'
The moment I shoved Jason's head into my mouth, I realized I'd made a huge mistake.
The red liquid of life trickling down my throat was astonishingly addictive. It even drowned out the pain of the hole punched through my neck.
Jason's blood tasted like maple syrup, but with far more umami. His flesh had to be even more enticing than I could imagine.
The problem was that all I had was his head. Everything below the neck had vanished in a flash of blue light.
'At least I salvaged the head.'
Thanks to the jaw effect of the Essence Harvester, even just the head let me claim the genetic essence within him.
I clenched my jaw and chewed Jason's head.
Flesh, muscle, blood, bone, brain, and the single remaining horn. Every component of the Cult's head was absorbed into me.
Then, translucent text boxes popped up one after another before my eyes.
Compatible for fusion with held traits 'Space Bacteria' and 'Flames of Hallucination'. Please select a trait. The result will be influenced by the trait used as material.
P.S.: You stand at a crucial crossroads. Choose wisely.
Time remaining for trait selection: 24:00:00
Target for Trait Enhancement System. Would you like to use the system?
'What's with all these?'
I'd expected something like with Muriel, but there were way more text boxes than anticipated.
'Perks he stole from other players?'
From the looks of it, the bastard had three perks. Two couldn't be used under current conditions, and only one could fuse with what I had.
'Makes sense. Even with the Plunderer's Irregular Polyhedron, I used Metal Absorption as material.'
I checked the fuseable perk first.
It said either the infection-related Space Bacteria or the psychic-related Flames of Hallucination could be used for fusion.
The two traits were polar opposites. The outcome would differ wildly depending on which I chose.
And for some reason, it gave me a full 24 hours to decide.
'First time for this.'
The situation was unusual, and unwelcome. No way it'd hand out benefits for nothing.
'A crucial crossroads, huh...'
With 24 hours left, no rush to choose.
More pressing matters first.
The high-quality energy from eating Jason's head went entirely to healing the wound in my neck. The piercing injury inside mostly closed, stopping the gushing blood.
With the fatal wound healed, the Revenant Organ finished its job and entered dormancy. The tiny organ attached to my heart would sleep deeply for the next six months.
So, I might not be able to use it against the Black Gallerons.
'If they attack now, no chance of winning.'
After my rampage underground and triggering Brain Flash, who knew when the Gallerons might descend.
Not just me—everyone here was far from peak condition. Specimen 026 had major wounds, Adhai's legs and wings were broken. PS-111 was a wreck, barely any intact parts.
Sky Mother was the least hurt, just a cracked beak.
She approached me.
"We need to get out of here, fast."
She knew this situation sucked too.
[Zuzuzu Zuz (To the mountains)]
"...The Gallerons already swept through. Think it'll be safe?"
The mountains weren't safe, as she said, but no choice. The underground space below us had collapsed completely.
Even if we found an uncollapsed spot by luck, we'd likely run into the Gallerons who came here.
'Food supply's another issue.'
The last card I played to kill Jason was the combo of 'Clever Weakling' and 'Emblem of the Hunt'. I figured it'd help with killing, but there were other reasons.
Clever Weakling specialized in agility, stealth, and efficient energy allocation, minimizing Emblem of the Hunt's side effects.
Less chance of baring teeth at the kids like before.
'The kids are more worrying right now.'
To heal the seriously injured, two options: feed them or strip my nest and apply Symbiotic Spores.
'Either way, need massive food.'
And none around. The collapse buried all the prey in ice.
[Zuzuzu Zuz Zuzuzu Zuz (No other way right now)]
"Got it."
Sky Mother nodded, shifted to griffon form, and loaded the battered PS-111 on her back.
"Excuse me, mid-child."
"...Can't you call me Sky Mother?"
"Unauthorized command."
"......"
Meanwhile, I carefully picked up 026. To minimize energy loss, it had shrunk small.
[Zuz Zuzuzu (Body okay?)]
"I'm fine! What about you, big guy? Does it hurt?"
Its pale body screamed agony, yet it worried about me first. A strange feeling welled up.
[Zu Zuzuzu Zuzuzu (This much? I'll heal quick)]
"Amazing!"
[Zuzuzu Zuzuzu (Hang on a bit)]
I placed 026 gently on my head and checked Adhai.
Its condition was dire. Broken forelegs and wings were bad, but hypothermia was worse.
I scooped the shivering creature with my combat arms, hugging it to my chest. My furred hide might raise its temperature a bit.
"Warm"
Feeling it nuzzle my chest, I looked to Sky Mother. She nodded, ready.
We bolted toward the pitch-black mountain ridge.
Me in centaur form, legs pumping furiously. Sky Mother bounding powerfully on her lion-like body.
Our tracks faded quickly under the shower of white ice flakes.
Mid-run, a beastly growl echoed from the blackened sky. Blizzard incoming.
Snow intensified, temperature plummeting. Linger here, and the cold-sensitive Adhai and Sky Mother would freeze.
Aware of that, Sky Mother pushed her limits too.
About ten minutes later, we reached the mountain's edge. Different from yesterday's screamer spot, but similar scenery.
Trees thin at the base, branches spiderwebbing upward—evolved to survive gales and blizzards.
The canopy shielded the forest, making it less frigid.
Not warm by any means, just not instant death.
I set down 026 and Adhai, dug furiously into the earth. Made a big pit, covered it with nearby branches.
[Zuzuzu Zuzuzuzu Zuzuzu Zuz (Should be better in here)]
Wanted a fire, but smoke would alert Gallerons. Best we could do.
"Kids, huddle together. It'll be less cold."
"Yeah."
"Cold""Cold""Cold!"
"Heat emission function currently inactive. Provide additional energy to activate."
Four species pressed together for survival. Bought more time.
'Now, energy for recovery.'
As PS-111 said, we needed energy. If 026 recovered, it could swell and shield the kids from cold.
'And I can pass psychic power to PS-111.'
For my own recovery, needed something to fill my gut now. I left the kids with Sky Mother and ventured deeper into the forest.
Emblem of the Hunt ending soon. Prepping for potential backlash.
'Gotta find something.'
Any convertible biomass would do. Delay, and who knows what happens.
Auxiliary organ in bone blade form scanned frantically for life.
It twitched busily, then caught movement nearby.
Multiple footsteps.
I dashed toward the sound.
Passed countless trees, reached the source.
'...Damn.'
Unfortunately, not what I hoped for.
"Hostile organism detected. 30% match to set target. Main controller 'Pira Eleven' command delayed."
"Transmitting data to PS-250 mid-terminal. Transmission complete."
Three new-model screamers. Behind them, a fallen beast with green scales.
Body over 10m including tail, massive wings— a Green Galleron.
Bite wounds everywhere, but no blood scent. Someone sucked every drop.
'No idea what happened, but...'
Needed that Galleron corpse for energy now.
"Mid-terminal lacks decision authority. Autonomous judgment required."
"Energy replenishment complete. Galleron biological traits applied."
"Target suppression initiated."
With that, the screamers charged at blinding speed. Like Adhai's super acceleration.
One cleaved air with spider-like metal legs.
In Clever Weakling form, I kicked off with four legs, dodging sideways.
Swung my tail at its rear. Pincer at the tip smashed its skull clean.
"Kree!"
It crashed. Another closed in front.
Two front legs with three claws each lunged for my head. I caught them with combat arms.
Its body twisted grotesquely; rear legs targeted my flank. Eight legs made it possible.
'Two can play that.'
In Emblem of the Hunt mode, I had more limbs. Crossed my back arms with bone scythes.
Sickening sound; the attacker's strength faded. I hurled the cleanly decapitated corpse skyward.
The third, perched on a tree, leaped seeing its ally fly at it.
I charged its landing spot. It twisted midair to evade.
'Not today!'
The humanoid faces atop my head shell chorused, blasting intense soundwaves. Paralyzing waves hit; it stiffened.
Six horns on my head pierced it.
"In, inciner, pro..."
Before self-destruct, combat arm gripped its head, yanked hard.
"In, in, in..."
Spine ripped out whole, it shut down fast. I tossed the gross head aside, stripped the rest from my horns.
Battle over, strength drained from my body.
Emblem of the Hunt ended.
Hunger like days of starvation filled the void. Thick carapace crumbled like sandcastles.
Back scythe arms shriveled and detached. Muscled, armored limbs now looked like freshly unearthed mummies.
Size barely changed beyond shedding.
Clever Weakling caps at under 5m, even enlarged. Emblem changes shape, not length.
Mutations complete, a voice sounded.
"Hostile organism. Combat data transmitting to PS-250 mid-terminal."
The one I'd tail-smashed. Skull two-thirds crushed, but alive.
'Self-destruct would suck.'
Pushing through ravenous hunger and weakness, I moved to finish it.
As I neared—
"Big Lord!"
'Adhai?'
Adhai's thought wave hit. Turned; it flew through trees, wings flapping weakly.
"Big trouble!""Kin""Me""Found!"
'What?'
Understood instantly; something above.
'Wingbeats?'
Realized, backpedaled fast. Massive white beast crashed onto the screamer.
Pulverized it to dust. Amethyst eyes glared down.
'...Insane.'
Multiple head horns, huge wings, reptilian body, tentacle mass instead of mouth.
Galleron, called space dragons. Second strongest after Black—White Galleron.
The one I'd desperately hoped to avoid, right in front of me.