Chapter 208
Chapter 208
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 208
Chapter Title: Skywhale, the Prized Prey
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The Skywhale was one of the most sought-after prizes in the cosmos.
Its wings, capable of firing photon blasts, made for prime material in Mega Corp weaponry. The gall bladder and other organs were staples in Cult rituals and ceremonies. Even the oil accumulated in its body was prized for cleaning delicate machinery like android brains or starship computers.
Because it benefited so many species, fights were a constant wherever a Skywhale was spotted.
Moreover, it was prime prey for races that grew stronger through traits like Aimorph or Outsider. Skywhales rarely yielded duds among their abilities. Space flight, colossal size, photon cannon generation—every trait was a winner.
The closest thing to a "dud" might be Energy Absorption, but even that had its uses under the right conditions. Once you'd amassed enough strong traits and didn't need more, its upsides would outweigh the drawbacks.
In short, Skywhales were like Christmas gift boxes for every player out there. The one I'd taken down didn't grant me Energy Absorption, Space Flight, or Colossal Beast, though.
'Didn't expect this trait.'
I'd hoped for its photon cannon attack, but what I got wasn't half bad. It fused nicely with one of my existing traits, yielding a brand-new fusion ability.
But traits weren't what had me stunned right now.
A Galleron—whose ecology was shrouded in mystery—was molting right in front of me.
While devouring the Skywhale, scales had begun sloughing off Adhai's body. At first, I thought it was just shedding old scales. I was wrong.
What started with one or two soon became chunks peeling away, revealing pristine white scales beneath, milky as fresh cream.
That was the beginning.
Adhai stopped eating and unfurled its folded wings, wrapping them around its body. Even though the massive wings enveloped it completely, the sounds gave away the transformation underway. The pop pop noises, like kernels bursting in popcorn, were its joints growing.
The wings expanded too, keeping pace with the body's growth. The green outer scales flaked off like dead skin, littering the ground, as new ones took their place. The wing membranes turned a pure, paint-fresh white.
"Biggie, the little one's acting weird."
"Little one's gonna grow big too?"
"The little one's total energy output is surging dramatically."
Under everyone's watchful eyes, Adhai continued its growth. Its healthy body ballooned in size in mere moments, yet it showed no signs of pain.
'Is it secreting some special pain-numbing compound?'
Aimorphs restructured their entire bodies while cocooned, the thick mucus inside dulling any agony from the changes.
Gallerons might undergo something similar—perhaps secreting growth-pain suppressants from their brains.
'First the Seed Demon, now a Galleron.'
I was probably the only player who'd witnessed the growth of two rare creatures up close.
And after some time had passed...
A pristine white lotus bloomed amid the pool of blood. The metamorphosis was complete.
Its freshly molted wings gleamed like masterfully cut diamonds—stunningly beautiful and surely unbreakable.
'So this is evolution.'
Adhai had evolved into a White Galleron. Its body length had increased substantially, but it was still much smaller than its kin. Smaller even than a standard Green Galleron, let alone others at the same stage.
'Around 4 meters? A touch smaller than Mother Sky.'
Its body alone was shorter than Mother Sky in gryphon form. Wingspan would tip the scales in Adhai's favor, of course.
'The change in build really alters the vibe.'
Before, it had a fragile fawn-like delicacy. Now, it exuded far more maturity. Maybe because its head stayed the same size while the body grew.
Beneath that petite head, its slender frame had gained just the right amount of muscle for a healthy glow. The long neck and waist curved with an even more alluring elegance. Its chubby, cute tail had lengthened into a voluptuous sweep—not fat, just perfectly filled out.
Smaller than most, yet it boasted beauty surpassing any other Galleron. And it had one feature absent in its kin.
'Red markings on its body.'
Vivid crimson wave patterns ran from the crown of its head, down the neck, along the back, inside the wing membranes, and to the tail. They popped against the flawless white scales.
'One of a kind.'
Ship Ort's "savior," those red markings—it all evoked one legendary figure.
The pinnacle among Gallerons, rival to the Vortex Core: the Red Galleron.
'...Nah, couldn't be.'
I'd hunted a Red Galleron in the game myself. It dwarfed all others in size—nothing like Adhai's compact frame.
Besides, Red Gallerons wielded a unique energy system, akin to the Vortex Core. I sensed no such exotic power from Adhai.
'And in this state, it couldn't beat a Black Galleron.'
No matter how special a White Galleron it was, the size gap was insurmountable. Fresh from growth, Adhai hadn't even learned White Galleron combat tactics. Whatever Ship Ort was planning, a straight fight meant certain defeat.
'Guess I'll ask directly.'
Capturing Ship Ort would reveal everything about Adhai.
"Never thought I'd witness a Galleron molting in person."
"Little one's different now."
Sensing our stares, Adhai slowly folded its fully spread wings. Tucking the long appendages neatly against its back, it moved with unmatched grace compared to other Gallerons.
If anything, it evoked a young bride in a wedding dress—perhaps an over-the-top comparison.
"Me?" "How...?"
"Gorgeous."
"Yeah! Little one's all grown up—such a good kid!"
"Thanks."
Pleased by the flood of praise, it emitted a wave of contentment. Then it turned to me, amethyst eyes reflecting my form. I sent back a psionic pulse.
"Really?"
Delighted by my praise, Adhai wagged the tip of its tail.
With Adhai's growth complete, we finished off the remaining Skywhale meat. It must have burned a ton of energy molting, as it slurped up vast amounts of blood afterward.
The flesh had dried out completely, turning chewy and fibrous, but that was fine. No Apex I'd consumed had disappointed, and the Skywhale was no exception.
'One hell of a unique flavor.'
Like turning extra-lemony blue Hawaiian punch into firm jelly. The gum-like texture made it fun to chew.
'Not exactly a full meal, though.'
Once the feast wrapped up, I called Adhai over. Time to ask it to guide me to the nest.
"Me." "Nest." "Location." "Known."
Just as I thought things were falling into place, Adhai hesitantly sent a psionic wave.
"Big Lord." "Me." "Request." "Have one."
"Nest." "Hatchlings." "Many." "Blue kin." "Spare?" "Possible?"
Adhai gazed up at me, eyes quivering faintly. I didn't answer right away.
'...Hmm.'
Specimen 026 had shown pity for its own kind multiple times before. Not just Bubble Amoebas, but even PS-111, just because it smelled like kin.
I'd figured Adhai might do the same eventually. Though abandoned by its own, it had a sensitive soul—less clannish than 026, but still.
'Blue Gallerons.'
All Gallerons were Apex predators. When I first bonded with Adhai, I planned to wipe the nest clean.
'Didn't expect to grow this attached back then.'
Now, I felt affection—great or small—for everyone by my side. No matter how I examined myself, that much was certain. As long as it didn't threaten my survival, I'd grant their requests.
But this was different.
Whether to exterminate the Gallerons tied directly to my survival. I needed to kill them for traits and evolution milestones.
Even if slaying only adults fulfilled the conditions, that didn't justify sparing the young. Blue Galleron traits were still on the table.
Adhai had spent enough time with me to know my mindset. Smart as it was, it knew the score. So it proposed a compromise: kill the rest, but spare the hatchlings.
From its perspective, a reasonable ask. The young born after its abandonment were innocent, unlike those who'd cast it out.
'If I refuse here...?'
Adhai had pledged to become my kin, bound by contract. It wouldn't defy my order to guide me to the nest.
But the shock would be unavoidable. If I massacred them, our bond would shatter. Expecting it to fight as fiercely as before? Unlikely.
'Which is the better deal?'
Sacrifice the relationship and slaughter them all?
Or honor the request, fulfill evolution requirements, and call it done?
As I weighed my options, Adhai's eyes widened. It shot skyward.
'What the—?'
It ascended until it was a mere speck. Moments later, 026 bounded over, hopping excitedly.
"Biggie! Bad guys are here!"
"Yeah! Flappy bad guys!"
After parsing its wave, my auxiliary organs belatedly reported anomalies nearby.
Massive psychic power echoed from above.
"Huh? Hey, where...!"
I scooped 026 onto my back and launched into the sky. At altitude, the scene came into view.
'Gallerons!'
Clouds were gathering once more overhead.
In the ashen battlefield below, a lone White Galleron clashed with ten Green Gallerons.
The ancient black dragon, the great Ord Grad, was in high spirits.
He'd finally uprooted the thorn that's plagued him for so long. The rebels who'd defied him were crushed, and the fugitives would soon fall to his minions.
The ringleader, Ship Ort, would never see the outside world again. She'd spend eternity in a dark cave, laying eggs until death.
Everything was back to normal at last. His flock would resume their perfect, ordained cycle.
He sprawled atop the glittering minerals in his cave. As pleasant drowsiness overtook him, a vision flashed before his eyes.
A black-scaled kin charged, severing his neck. He couldn't resist. All he could do was plummet limply to the ground.
The vision ended with the hard impact.
Sleep shattered, Ord Grad lurched upright.
"Future?" "Why?"
Ord Grad glimpsed the future through dreams or visions. Most came as dreams; pure visions like this were exceedingly rare.
And rare meant dire. From experience, such visions only struck when death loomed perilously close.
"Rebels." "Done." "No?"
No kin left could evolve to black. Ship Ort came closest, but she was trapped, dying in the caves.
As he puzzled over the impossible, a subordinate burst in.
"Great Ord Grad." "Report."
"Speak."
"Black kin." "Sighted."
"!"
The report came from a grass-green subordinate.
His vision hadn't been a lie.
Ominous death had crept one step closer.