Chapter 191
Chapter 191
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 191
Chapter Title: Colors of the Abyss
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A translucent text box popped up again. It was as if it were asking whether this was truly the best choice.
There were two reasons I chose Flames of Hallucination over Cosmic Bacteria.
The first was the enemies I had to face right here on this planet.
Gallerons were masters of psionic techniques. Even a White Galleron was a monster capable of unleashing barrages of psionic breath. To fight them, I needed multiple weapons harnessing psionic power.
'But all the psionic traits I have are either supportive or defensive.'
The closest things to offensive psionic abilities were Flames of Hallucination and the psionic breath from Monster's Tentacles, but both had fatal flaws.
Flames of Hallucination only worked on Blue Gallerons and was useless against anything stronger. Psionic Breath was powerful but had limited uses.
In a situation where I lacked offensive psionic traits, sacrificing Flames of Hallucination to gain a new ability was a net positive.
And the second reason concerned my connection to the Vortex One.
If things went as I expected and my psionic traits fused with the perk to manifest as the Vortex One's power, it would become an incredibly potent trait.
'In the game, everything related to them was always useful.'
The Vortex One possessed only unique traits. So whenever I hunted one and triggered the Predation Effect, I could count on acquiring a unique trait.
'Of course, there are risks.'
The blessings from the Vortex One could be summed up simply as high risk, high reward. Power granted by transcendent beings was never free.
Like how Psionium's duration shortened with each use, wielding such abilities might weaken me over time or demand an ever-growing price.
That's why players on the cult route saw their power drop off sharply past the mid-to-late game.
'If it's tied to the Vortex One's power, I'll have to treat it as a trump card.'
Like God's Whip.
I selected confirm on the translucent text box's prompt.
A new message appeared.
Trait Enhancement System.
It was a new system that had arrived via message when I first unlocked the space monster type. I checked the details of the Trait Enhancement System.
Come to think of it, this was my first time using the Trait Enhancement System. It hadn't been unlocked when I killed Muriel, and no new unique traits were showing up in the system yet—probably because the conditions weren't met.
This was also my first time selecting traits to create a Token of the Strong.
'...This really is a major turning point.'
I'd felt this way back when I first started playing Space Survival, not long after picking it up.
Curiosity about the unknown outcome, mingled with fear and anticipation of the butterfly effect this choice might unleash.
Basking in that strange mood, I reviewed the traits available as materials.
'Physical traits make up the largest portion of what I have.'
I had a total of 18 physical-related traits. Fused traits couldn't be used as enhancement materials, so that left 13.
'To maintain the physical reinforcement type, I need 10 traits.'
That meant I could invest up to 8 physical traits as enhancement materials. Of course, I had no intention of using all 8—I planned to pick just a few.
'Let's go with traits related to aquatic life.'
Aquatic traits weren't helpful in combat right now. Ice planets likely had water, but my targets had little to do with it.
I focused on rarely used traits or ones I could easily reacquire.
'From physical: Pheromone Enhancement, Robust Vitality, Webbed Digits, Fins, Dexterity. That's 5.'
For the rest, I picked useless traits from other categories.
Memory Trace from psionics, Delusion Worm from infection, and Sticky Bristles and Water Ghost Blisters from nesting.
With 9 traits selected, I gave it one final review to ensure nothing would go wrong.
'This should do.'
Once confirmed, I designated the 9 traits as enhancement materials. Finally, the Token of the Strong System activated.
Fusing Jason (Jason Turningham)'s perk and the 'Flames of Hallucination' trait.
Trait Enhancement System intervening!
When activated, you don indescribable colors upon your body. Psionic traits are automatically imbued with these colors.
*Applicable Targets:Monster's Tentacles, Gazer of Terror, Psionic Reflection Armor
P.S.: Fear cannot be controlled. Likewise, these unknown colors cannot be controlled.
As the new Token of the Strong completed, a flurry of translucent text boxes appeared. Perhaps due to energy drain, my head suddenly felt heavy. I staggered slightly but steadied myself and examined the new trait's description.
'This is...?'
The result was nothing like I'd anticipated.
'Not an offensive trait?'
From the description alone, it seemed like another support trait. I couldn't be sure until I tested it, of course.
More troubling was the postscript. Unlike usual, its ominous tone gnawed at me.
'Uncontrollable?'
In Space Survival, there were occasional gear and traits players couldn't control. Some were incredibly powerful, others awkward to use. They varied wildly, but all shared the challenge of overcoming their lack of controllability.
From my experience, uncontrollable traits were as tricky to handle as the Revenant Organ.
'I'll have to experiment to figure out how to wield it... Huh?'
Distracted by the new trait, I'd only just noticed the change in my surroundings.
'Mother of the Sky is gone?'
She'd been there while I interrogated Jason's human-faced beast, but now she was nowhere in sight. Focusing my auxiliary organs, I sensed her presence in a small clearing nearby.
I paused reviewing Colors of the Abyss and headed toward her.
'What are you... Oh.'
In the clearing, she stared silently at the empty sky. Even in the darkness, her radiant amber eyes brimmed with tears.
She wiped at them with a forepaw as I approached.
"Done?"
She acted nonchalant, forcing a calm facade, leaving me speechless.
'...My mistake.'
When questioning Jason, I'd learned why he targeted Mother of the Sky.
His motive was utterly petty and simplistic.
He wanted to toy with her as a plaything. Then, once bored, turn her into a perk.
He could've chosen anyone else, but he picked her for two reasons.
'He wanted a wolf sex slave, and...'
Playing with another player was all the more thrilling.
Mother of the Sky had lost her loved ones and family to Jason's pathetic desires.
'Shouldn't have brought her along.'
I'd thought hearing the truth might ease her pain a little, but ignorance would have been kinder.
I silently settled beside her and lay down. Then I leaned my body slightly against hers.
It meant nothing special. She hadn't gained Wendigo power yet, so the cold must be hard to bear.
Normally, she'd give me an awkward look, but now, mentally drained, she simply stayed still.
And so, we pressed against each other in silence.
I wanted to offer comfort, but alas, I lacked the words.
Besides, I'd never endured her kind of pain—losing precious beings in an instant. If Jason killed No. 26 or Adhai, even I'd lose my mind.
Just imagining it made my blood boil, and she'd lived through it for real. No words from me could console her.
All I could do was help her stay warm.
How much time passed?
After a long silence, she sent a telepathic message.
"I met him ten years ago. In my fifth year after crash-landing in this world."
The "him" she meant could only be one person.
'Father of the Earth.'
In the game, he was a fixed NPC tied to the quest for the priest's golden spear. He had goat horns and metal scales covering a male lion's body. Not large, but with immense defense and speed. Like a miniaturized Ice Horror, in a nutshell.
I'd already heard how she married Father of the Earth and became the guardian deity of the wolves in this world. How she'd resolved to live with the family she found here.
"Honestly, when I first arrived, I couldn't adapt at all."
[Zuzuzu (Really?)]
"Yeah. If I hadn't met him, I wouldn't have survived this long."
Her words flowing now, she began recounting her experiences with her beloved.
"We'd fight, make up, and he'd bring me a Gray Centipede in his mouth. The shock... You know those things, right? They look just like that guy's head."
[Zuzu zuzuzu zuzuzuzu zu zuzuzu (Yeah. They were popular for terror posts in the community.)]
"Exactly. Even a millennium of love would've cooled."
Memories of their fights and reconciliations.
"The young wolves tried putting flowers in his fur, and he looked so awkward. I never knew a lion could make that face."
[Zuzuzu zu (Sounds intriguing.)]
Memories of joyful times together.
She dredged up every memory that surfaced, without omission. Her tales jumped around in order and context, hard to follow.
But I listened quietly. I knew she was mourning the dead this way.
"Haha, what a funny guy. At the end, what does he say? 'Together forever,' then leaves. Hmph, rotten bastard..."
Chattering nonstop at first, she trailed off eventually. Reduced to repeating "rotten bastard" amid sobs.
At her pitiful sight, one of my smaller arms moved unbidden.
Soft, fluffy fur brushed my fingertip. I gently stroked her snow-white head.
Overwhelmed by emotion, Mother of the Sky seemed oblivious to the petting.
'We're not that close, but...'
Perhaps from brushing death together so often. It felt awkward to pull away now, so I kept going.
She poured out all the tears she'd bottled up. Only when they froze on her forepaws did she calm.
"Phew."
Regaining composure, she shyly pulled her head aside. I naturally withdrew my hand in response.
"Never thought I'd bawl like this at my age."
[Zuzuzu zuzuzu (How old are you?)]
"...You have to ask that right now?"
[Zuzuzu zu (Got nothing else to say.)]
"One favor. Is that okay?"
[Zu (What?)]
"Jason's human-faced beast. I want to smash it."
I thought it a joke to break the awkwardness, but her eyes said otherwise. Her forepaw claws were out, ready.
[Zuzuzu (No)]
"Please, just once. Yeah? One really hard hit?"
[Zuzuzuzu zuzuzu zuzuzuzuzu (We'll consider if HP fully recovers.)]
Truth be told, it could regenerate endlessly. It was part of my body, after all. If smashing it eased her grudge even a bit, it'd be a win.
Mother of the Sky fell silent, then met my gaze squarely.
"Thank you."
Her short, sincere words.
I nodded in reply. Her smooth amber eyes still held sorrow, but far less than before.
'Good.'
"A-Anyway, your appearance changed a lot?"
Embarrassed by eye contact, she changed the subject.
"The new trait's doing?"
I'd skimmed Colors of the Abyss then come straight to her. Hadn't checked my body yet.
[Zu zuzuzu zuzuzuzu zuzuzuzu (Probably 'cause a few traits vanished.)]
"Yeah? Feels like more than that."
Mother of the Sky tilted her head, inspecting me.
Webbed digits between fingers, hidden tail fins, and various other traits had been removed by the Trait Enhancement System.
But as she said, there was a subtle change beyond that. Examining myself, I quickly spotted it.
'Monster's Tentacles?'
The tentacles flowing from the back of my head—like sparse mane or hair along the carapace to my neck—had altered slightly. They were longer and thicker now, greater in number and far more lush.
They now covered my entire neck and even the jaw joints.
'Because Colors of the Abyss affects psionics?'
It wasn't just increased volume.
The tentacle clusters now shimmered with a dangerous blend of green and purple. Calling it a "shine" was generous—it resembled foam or mold, utterly grotesque.
"Must be the new perk."
[Zu zuzuzu (Seems like it.)]
"Not my place to say, but those tentacles give off bad vibes. Whatever the trait, be careful with it."
Whether her wolfish instincts or ranker's intuition, Mother of the Sky immediately sensed the danger in the changed tentacles.
'I'll check it out in the morning.'
I planned to forage for food come dawn anyway.
The spoils from Jason: Colors of the Abyss.
Tomorrow, I'd devote the day to probing this unknown power.