Chapter 196
Chapter 196
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 196
Chapter Title: Crystalwing Nest
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Ep. 196
"It's nice going around together."
[Zzuzu(Yeah?)]
"It'd be nice to have a little kid too."
[Zzuzu zzuzu zz zzuzuzu zuzzuzu( Don't worry. I'll definitely bring one back.)]
"Yeah!"
I gently stroked Number 26 perched on my head. In response, it softly caressed my horn with its tentacles.
"...You look so cute in that form."
"An unanalyzable physiological response has been detected from the Main Controller."
"I think I know what that means."
"The middle child's statement is highly intriguing. I request information sharing."
"W-Why ask me?"
After resting well and recovering from my injuries, I left the nest with the others. We were heading out to hunt new prey together.
'This one's tricky to hunt solo.'
This enemy wasn't the type with overwhelming personal strength like the Ice Horror or one that commanded hordes like the Glacial Fiend. It was annoying in a different way. Even Mother of the Sky had freaked out when I brought it up.
I glanced at Mother of the Sky bickering with PS-111.
'So that's her new form.'
Thanks to consuming the Ice Horror's heart and the Winter Walker heart I brought back, she'd gained Wendigo powers.
The Wendigo in Space Survival looked very different from the legendary depictions. This world's version resembled a black skeletal stag walking on two legs.
Wendigo powers fell into two main categories: temperature control, like generating cold, and mental disruption of other creatures.
Unlike the short-flight, melee-specialized Griffin, it excelled in combat support and crowd control.
'Better suited for group fights than one-on-one.'
That was probably why Wendigos were popular among packmates.
Ironically, Wolf players themselves disliked them as familiars. Wendigos had a notorious reputation for their ugly appearance.
'It used to be that way, at least...'
Mother of the Sky's current form incorporated some Wendigo traits, but it didn't look bad at all.
She still had the white-headed eagle's head, the ornate mane, and the golden-furred lioness body, but now with additions: two black horns on her head and black wave patterns on her body.
All changes courtesy of her special perk.
'Hunter God's Disguise Skin.'
Normally, when Wolves reached deification, they randomly selected a familiar form. This familiar was essentially their core essence and couldn't be changed once chosen.
But Mother of the Sky's perk, 'Hunter God's Disguise Skin,' bypassed that limit.
She'd explained that besides her initial Griffin, she could transform into one of four additional familiars.
Once the conditions for a transformation were unlocked, she could use it once a month. For example, transforming into a Wendigo here meant no other forms until a month passed.
Transformation duration varied by familiar. Wendigo lasted up to five days.
That was why she was saving it and staying in Griffin form.
'The unlocked familiar's traits partially carry over to Griffin form anyway.'
Like the deer antlers sprouting from her head now. She also wasn't bothered by the cold at all, thanks to the Wendigo's cold immunity trait.
'She's unlocked two extra familiars, so two left.'
Unlocking new familiars required materials around Wendigo difficulty—Apex-level monsters.
I should scout monsters that could help Number 26 grow too.
'Come to think of it, she unlocked another before Wendigo. How'd she get that?'
As I pondered that, Mother of the Sky called out to me.
"Where do you plan to start looking? It'll take forever if we just wander blindly."
[Zzuzuzu zuzu zzuzuzuzu(Heading north.)]
"North?"
Our nest was in the middle of a forest near the mountain range's edge. North led straight into the mountains.
Today's plan: scour one of those countless peaks.
[Zzuzu zzuzuzu zzuzuzuzu zzuzuzuzuzu(You said you saw it at the twin peaks, right?)]
"According to reports received before losing mid-range communication function, yes."
First thing in the morning, I'd asked PS-111 if its sub-units had spotted the creature I was after.
One of the Mutant Screamers acting as mid-range relay remembered info from lower units. They'd sighted my target before.
'Spotted at the twin peaks.'
This prey had a vast hunting territory. If sighted near the twin peaks close to the forest, the whole area was likely its range.
'It only nests in very high places, so there might be one up top.'
The twin peaks were visible from the icy plains. We'd have to check, but it was a solid possibility.
'Gotta catch one anyway to save Adhai.'
Fighting Gallerons absolutely required flight ability.
Not basic flight—high-speed maneuverability and spaceflight-capable.
Gallerons could fly from hatchling stage onward. As Adhai showed, they used it aggressively in combat.
White Gallerons had air-combat traits beyond Green Gallerons' 'super acceleration.'
To face them, I needed powerful flight too.
'Skywhale has flight, but...'
Skywhales absorbed intangible natural energies. This psychic-rich planet with a dragon's nest should have them.
Problem: they never landed. No flight meant unreachable.
Gallerons offered flight traits, but they hunted in packs.
Last option: Crystalwing, our target at the twin peaks.
[Zzuzu zzuzuzu zzuzuzuzu zzuzu zzuzuzuzu(Today's goal is finding a Crystalwing nest.)]
"Ugh, even here I have to do that tedious job."
Mother of the Sky shook her head in dismay. Then Number 26 poked my head with a tentacle.
"Big kid, what's a Crystalwing?"
[Zzuzuzu zzuzuzu zzu zzuzuzuzu(A creature with shiny wings.)]
"Wings?"
Unfamiliar concept; it signaled confusion.
[Zzzzzz zzuzuzu(On Adhai.)]
I wanted to spread a gliding membrane to show, but clever weakling state forbade it. Still, the smart kid got it quick.
"The flap-flap thing! Flap-flap!"
[Zzuzu(Yeah.)]
Number 26 pulled out two tentacles and flapped them.
Adhai's flight was more elegant swimming through air, but close enough.
We headed north toward the twin peaks.
As we neared the mountains, the scenery shifted. Trees thinned, terrain roughened.
Huge ice chunks embedded randomly, bottomless crevasses. Pure wilderness. As a human, I'd never come here.
'Doesn't apply to us, though.'
I kicked off hard, leaping dozens of meters across a crevasse.
"Fun!"
Number 26 squealed delightedly atop my head. Mother of the Sky and PS-111 followed with easy bounds.
Everyone's physical prowess made rough terrain a non-issue.
At the mountains, sheer cliffs and steep slopes greeted us. No problem. Our pace held steady.
When hungry en route, we hunted wild mountain life. Snow Banshees creeping along cliffs were prime targets.
"One more up there."
"Engaging."
Mother of the Sky spotted prey with her sharp eyes; PS-111 blasted with its tail Demolisher.
"Kkeek!"
The material-disintegrating energy bolt struck; the Snow Banshee plummeted. Mid-fall, its body froze in air.
"Yap!"
Number 26 waved a tentacle; the body shuddered, burst like a balloon into four meat chunks. Blood reversed flow, sucked back in.
'Impressive.'
True to Sea Demon roots, it wielded psychic power masterfully. Better than Jason from days ago.
Number 26 handed us the meat orbs clinging to the cliff.
"Big kid, eat this."
[Zzuzuzu(Thanks.)]
It fed me directly, unasked.
Chewy texture filled my mouth with soy-salted jerky flavor. Like yesterday, Snow Banshee meat tasted of beef jerky and dried squid.
'Looks like a salamander, but wild.'
Snacking intermittently, we finally reached the twin peaks area.
Gray clouds overhead; matching peak ahead, vast ridge beyond.
Below, snow-laden black trees gleamed white. Beyond the forest, endless icy plains.
'...Beautiful.'
The frozen vista from the peak was breathtaking. First since meeting Number 26 and the Bubble Amoebas.
'Never seen this if not for this world.'
I wasn't alone in awe. Mother of the Sky stared blankly too.
"Friend, cold?"
"I am designed to function normally below -150°C."
"No idea what that means, but awesome!"
"Thank you for the praise, Main Controller."
Number 26 and PS-111 felt nothing, their sensibilities too alien.
Anyway, at the goal, we scouted the peaks. Minutes in, we found traces.
"You're right. Crystalwing nest nearby."
She dropped a branch from her beak. From local forest trees, but studded with gem-like grains.
'Branches for nest-building.'
Those 'gems' were dried Crystalwing saliva.
Crystalwing fluids crystallized into gem-like substances over time. Not true minerals.
'Comparing to gems is an insult.'
Far more valuable. The crystals emitted special electromagnetic fields, used in high-end alloys and ship computers. If not Aimorph, finding this nest could buy a warship.
Pointless musing aside, I followed the sparkling branches. They grew frequent until a glowing gem nest appeared.
Gallerons lined nests with gems too, but not like this. Definitely Crystalwing.
'Got the nest.'
I set Number 26 down, inspected with Mother of the Sky.
Mummified frozen corpse inside meant abandoned for a while.
"How many?"
[Zzuzu zzuzuzu zzuzuzu(At least two, looks like.)]
"Two? No egg signs?"
[Zzuzuzu zzuzuzu zzuzuzuzu zzuzu zzuzuzuzu(This part's reinforced. Male built it.)]
"Young couple, huh."
Minimum two: fresh male-female pair.
Post-mating, male builds nest; female prepares eggs atop. With eggs, female guards, male hunts.
Clear male reinforcement traces, but both absent—likely out foraging together.
'Prey didn't seem scarce.'
One should guard a new nest. Surprising.
'Maybe Gallerons narrowing their range.'
Gallerons and Crystalwings topped wild food chains, attacking rivals on sight.
Crystalwing beat Green Galleron but lost to White; packs favored Gallerons. Crystalwings moved cautiously despite apex status.
Two Galleron packs on-planet doubled territory. Tough foraging for Crystalwings.
"Even settled, it's trouble. If hunting, no telling when they return."
[Zzuzu zzuzuzu(Yeah.)]
Crystalwings foraged long-term: weeks to half-year. Shorter with eggs, but no luck here.
"Wait or find another?"
I didn't answer right away.
'Which is better?'
No Adhai kidnap, I'd wait. But time-limited now.
'Finding another not easy.'
Hundreds of peaks, thousands of habitats. Can't check all.
'Nest found—one choice left.'
[Zzuzuzu zzuzuzuzu zzuzuzu(Wait two days.)]
Mother of the Sky nodded in agreement.
If no show, risk Gallerons or grab any winged creature.
Thus, camping decided before nest even a day old.