Chapter 200
Chapter 200
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 200
Chapter Title: The Fourth Apex
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‘That makes four Apex monsters now.’
Thanks to teaming up with the kids, we took down even the female Crystalwing without much trouble. Way faster than when I was playing the game solo.
‘Back then, I was moving alone.’
If I’d had to face two Crystalwings by myself, it wouldn’t have been easy. And that’s not all—I’d have had to watch out for rival players gunning for them too.
It probably would’ve taken me weeks to claim just two.
But today, things went smoothly. I had backup from the kids, no other competitors around, and we encountered them after just two days. Pure luck.
‘And confirming Specimen 026’s potential was a bonus.’
As expected, it could only control attacks that came in ‘projectile form.’
The ‘Dread Gazer’ enhanced by ‘Abyssal Hues,’ and the ‘Acidic Fungus Gland’ trait that launches corrosive fungal blobs.
Specimen 026 handled both with ease—bursting spheres mid-flight for shotgun-like spreads, tweaking their speed, that sort of thing.
But it couldn’t manipulate the standard psychic breath fired in beam form. Probably the same for ‘God’s Lash,’ with its similar attack style.
‘Haven’t tested the enhanced psychic breath yet.’
I held back this time since we needed the corpses intact. Given the similarity to Dread Gazer, I figure it’s controllable.
Besides Specimen 026, Mother of the Sky and PS-111 performed beyond expectations too.
Mother of the Sky unlocked her Wendigo transformation, gaining access to some of its traits.
One being the ‘Ice Wraith’ ability.
True to the legends of Wendigos driving humans mad, the Space Survival version can mess with other creatures’ minds too.
Hit by Ice Wraith, a creature loses all reason and fixates solely on devouring others. No complex skills or owner-triggered traits—just mindless hunger.
If I got hit, I’d be a cannibal monster chasing gene essence with all abilities sealed.
‘Wendigo’s basically a PK-only familiar.’
It’s a brutally strong single-target debuff, but with hefty drawbacks. Duration varies wildly by foe, and while active, the Wendigo can’t use other skills or abilities.
So if your physical stats are weaker, it backfires hard.
Short version: it forces enemies into melee brawls.
That effect left the female Crystalwing unable to mount a proper counter before going down.
‘Pairs perfectly with the Priest’s golden spear.’
I left my gear back at the nest today, but I should bring it next hunt.
｢I thought we’d gotten strong, but this is impressive. Never knew Seed Demon had skills like that.｣
｢Am I awesome? Awesome?｣
“Psychic Power proficiency has increased by 42%. Congratulations.”
｢Don’t know what that means, but thanks!｣
The kids celebrated in front of the Crystalwing corpse. I dragged the male’s body over to them.
[Zuzzuzuz (Good work)]
“A fascinating development, as always. Requesting samples for genetic analysis.”
[Zuz (No)]
｢Can I have the female’s heart and some organs?｣
[Zuzzuzuz zuzzuz (Unlock condition?)]
｢Nah. Need it to raise my Griffin deification stage.｣
Oh, right. Like Aimorph growth stages, Volp deification has levels too. Higher stages bring them closer to the Volp gods.
Griffins are hybrid eagle-lion beasts—ground combat specialists with short glide capability. So deification requires power from strong fliers.
Her growth benefits my survival too. I nodded.
[Zuz (Sure)]
｢Thanks.｣
‘Alright, time to eat.’
While Mother of the Sky butchered, I started with the male’s corpse.
Its head was massive—easier to measure in meters. I tore into the beak and crest first, shoving the crest’s muscle fibers and skin into my maw.
‘…….’
My bifurcated jaws worked busily, chewing the crest. The unique texture—somewhere between bone and cartilage—tickled my mouth pleasurably. Sticky juices oozed with each bite, sliding down my throat and lifting my mood unwittingly.
‘Like ox bone soup.’
Similar to cartilage soaked in rich broth, dipped in tangy soy. But richer flavor and depth.
Unlike Ice Horror’s sharp spiciness, this hit with earthy comfort.
I devoured the crest in seconds and crunched the beak. Maybe from the prior intensity, it tasted plain.
‘Texture’s refreshingly crisp, though.’
Like biting into a ripe cucumber—crunchy satisfaction. Chewing the beak, I ripped off the whole head. Swallowed the shards, then dove into the dangling tongue and innards.
‘Mm, good.’
Expected tough from crest and beak textures, but no—the head meat was mild and tender.
‘Feels like boiled pork slices.’
Unlike the crest’s bold savoriness, the head was clean and soft. Eating it all together would’ve been ideal.
‘Tongue’s the star, though.’
Heard pork or beef tongues have unique flair. Never tried myself, but Crystalwing’s was distinctive—chewy, fatty bursts begging for booze.
Finished the head, I awaited the predation effect.
‘Huh?’
No translucent text box. Checked anyway—nothing.
‘No way.’
Worried I hadn’t eaten enough, I wolfed the long neck too. Still nothing.
‘Damn it!’
Like after Glacial Fin, low-probability flop again. Considered finishing the rest, but save that for post-hunt backlash purge.
‘…For real.’
Thought luck was on my side—turns out not. Goddess of Fortune betrayed me at crunch time. Post-meal bliss crashed hard.
I eyed the female’s corpse.
‘One shot left.’
Prime target: ‘Space Flight’ trait. Next: radio-based stealth/detection or super-regen. Space Flight’s best-case; others still solid.
Problem: dud traits like ‘Robust Vitality’ or ‘Enhanced Vision.’
‘…Didn’t see this coming.’
Smooth fight, yet this snag.
Then Mother of the Sky approached, gore-drenched something in hand.
｢What’d you find… Huh? What’s wrong?｣
[Zuzzuzuz zuzzuz (Failed again)]
｢What?｣
She gawked at the news of no trait gain.
｢…Don’t you gotta eat the whole body?｣
[Zuzzuzuz zuzzuzuz zuz (Doubt it matters)]
｢One miss means the next’ll trigger.｣
Gambler’s fallacy, but I let it slide—she meant well.
‘Tch. What’s done is done.’
Did all I could. Moping changes nothing—prep for failure’s more efficient.
‘If no luck, pivot to other powers.’
Sharkbear’s ‘Enhanced Endocrine Gland’ first, maybe.
I tore into the female’s head—no separating beak, straight crunch.
Still delicious like the male, but tension overshadowed. Beak shattered, skull cracked under mighty jaws. Contents slid swiftly to my gut.
‘Please!’
Only neck joint left—I gulped it whole.
The instant digestion hit:
｢GrRrR!｣
‘Yes!’
Text box popped—I roared aloud, arms raised. Specimen 026 nearby jumped.
｢Big Baby, you okay? Hurt?｣
｢Not hurt—happy.｣
｢That good?｣
｢Everything tastes good right now, right?｣
Mother of the Sky’s thought carried amusement, but I was too pumped.
‘Making me sweat for this? Accept!’
Staring at my dream trait, I confirmed.
‘Space Flight’ trait applied. Can fuse with existing ‘Gliding Membrane’. ‘Space Flight’ + ‘Gliding Membrane’ fused. Evolved into ‘Beast’s Reinforced Wings’ trait! Beast’s Reinforced Wings: Inherits and enhances ‘Space Flight’.
P.S. Countless prey await you in the cosmos.
Born in a spaceship hold, I first walked alloy decks.
On the Cult’s holy planet, I swam deep oceans with fins.
Land, sea, sky.
On this frozen world, I gained new power.
The strength to roam that infinite, starless void.
“Ngh… Everyone okay?”
“Y-Yes, sir!”
“Captain! You alright?”
“D-Damn it! Status report!”
“Major damage to main guns! Stern outer hull breached too! Engines lightly damaged—thank goodness!”
“Casualties?”
“…Five fighter pilots and seven gunners missing.”
The Cult captain grimaced, despite minimal engine damage.
‘This cursed planet!’
Five days since their young priest Jason vanished. Plus that latest attack. Headaches piled up.
Promising talent on probation after a flop, vanishing on an uncharted world—unprecedented imperial scandal.
Normally, he’d wait for priest contact. Not this time.
The host who allowed their camp issued an expulsion.
The sly Black Galleron booted them when Jason didn’t return—said he had business, no time for small fry.
Captain personally thanked it. Galleron attitudes shifted daily.
One more day there, and the pack would’ve drained them dry.
Leaving the nest was fine—then the real trouble hit.
Something ambushed as they boarded to flee.
“…Just answer this: Think Garan Minos will leave us be?”
“Given their timid nature, they got what they wanted—no reason to pursue.”
Everyone knew ‘what they wanted’: twelve missing crew.
‘Why us, of all things…’
Garan Minos—giant pterosaurs meaning ‘shining wings’—ultra-rare. Temple Guardians hunting monsters or Cult smugglers rarely saw them.
When two slammed their just-launched ship, captain thought it a dream. Woke to hull breaches and dead crew.
Temple Guardian’s dozen survivors repelled them—just barely.
“Captain, if I may—we must reach the Council ASAP.”
“I know.”
Irked by the Guardian’s urging, but he stayed calm. Without them, all aboard would’ve been dino chow.
“How long for engine repairs?”
“Hard to say till we start—looks lengthy.”
“No skimping on support—fix engines first. Seal off hull breach, relocate critical supplies.”
“Understood.”
Luckily, engines intact. Uncharted planet—no rescue hopes if stranded.
‘We’d die before help arrived anyway!’
Galleron, Garan Minos, monsters everywhere—survival’s daily grind. Climate brutal too; no reinforced suits meant minutes to freeze.
“We’ll handle exterior watch. Please hurry repairs.”
“…Appreciated.”
Temple Guardians wore special Dragonscale Suits—ivory gear shrugging off the deadly cold.
Regular Cult crew like the captain? Dead on arrival.
‘Divine will! Keep disasters away!’
The captain prayed silently, watching crew bustle in the bridge.