Chapter 214
Chapter 214
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 214
Chapter Title: qiqi iykow gkk-214i
-----------------------------------------------------------------
```html
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 214
Chapter Title: Hellside Hornet's Feast
-----------------------------------------------------------------
After confirming the Hellside Hornet was dead, I retrieved its bone scythe arm.
Blood and brains oozed from the hole pierced through the center of its compound eyes.
Maggots swimming in murky brain fluid, an insect's head. It was a collection of repulsive elements, but from an Aimorph's perspective, it just looked like delicious prey.
Even for a monster lover like me, the sight was a bit much, but I ignored it and ripped off its head.
'Lucky I'm an Aimorph.'
It had been grotesque even alive, but in death, the Hellside Hornet looked even more horrific.
Out of the traits I could acquire from it, two were particularly useful.
'That sturdy arm and the maggot-producing ability.'
Both were excellent on their own, but fusing them into a hybrid trait would make them even stronger than the originals.
The Hellside Hornet's scythe could fuse with the "Jaw of the Essence Harvester" trait. The result would transform the arm-mounted scythe into tusks. By design, the tusk blades were lined with monomolecular saw edges capable of shredding any armor—even the Ice Horror's head carapace— with ease.
Its oral structure would change dramatically too, optimized for slicing a foe's throat with the scythe tusks and sucking up the essence right away.
'Perfect for mass harvesting.'
It was the most needed trait right now, with war against the Gallerons looming.
'Looking ahead, the maggot ability isn't bad either.'
The maggot generation trait could fuse with "Human-Faced Fly." The result would be a trait that spawned fly monsters with intelligent heads. Just as the original could produce only five Human-Faced Flies detachable from the body, this new version was limited to five Human-Faced Worms.
It retained the paralysis sonic ability, enabling far more erratic tactics than before.
'Won't work against Gallerons, though.'
Gallerons had no ears, so they were immune to sonic paralysis. This would have to wait for later.
'...If luck's bad, I might not get either and end up with Robust Vitality instead.'
Insect- and plant-type creatures commonly possessed the "Robust Vitality" trait.
No matter how much the Mark of the Hunter boosted predation success, acquired traits were still random. Duds were always possible.
'Enough distractions. Time to eat.'
Adhai was waiting beside me, eyeing when I'd start. The blood pool's appetizing aroma tempted it to dive right in, but it was holding back for my sake.
'Where to begin.'
I prayed for good traits and shoved the Hellside Hornet into my mouth.
'Mmm.'
The moment my bifurcated jaws crunched its head, an involuntary moan escaped me.
Anyone would gag at the sight. And its flavor matched perfectly.
'Sweet.'
Meltingly so.
Comparing the Hellside Hornet's head to real-world food, it was like chewing a giant caramel made of Nutella.
'Way sweeter than Nutella.'
The pale brown and yellow mucus of its brain matter hit my tongue like hyper-concentrated chocolate jam. Plus, the insect's signature hard carapace gave the satisfying crunch of crackers.
'Unhealthy deliciousness.'
True to form among Apex predators with their unique flavors, this head left a strong impression. While others' flesh felt like proper meals, this was pure snack territory.
Normally I'd gulp it down, but the addictive sweetness made me savor it longer. Finally, I swallowed the head—fully liquefied, not a chunk left.
'...Didn't see that coming.'
A Transcendence system message after so long. The system that combined multiple traits into a 'Unique' one.
Id completely forgotten about it since it hadnt appeared in ages.
'Polluted Larva Host is the key trait, huh.'
No such message had popped when I got Tetanus Vine, Tooth Fairy Nest, or Human Sacrifice.
'A new Unique trait.'
Id created Unique traits via Transcendence twice so far: "Perfect Organism," which granted Mark of the Hunter, and "Nightmare Horizon," which turned starships into bio-warships.
"Organic Evolution," which adapted my body to situations, was a freebie from Transcendence Stage 2 unlock.
In other words, I had three Unique traits. The two from Strong Enemy's Mark didnt count as Unique.
'Getting another would make four.'
Four Unique traits advanced the Space Monster type from Stage 0 to Stage 1. Rewards for Stage 1 were unknown.
'Tough to get, needing four Uniques for a type upgrade.'
Probably something evolution-level.
'Cant get it now anyway.'
The last material, "Red Acid," came from Glacial Fiends. If Id gotten it last hunt, Id have Transcended immediately.
'Even then, trait count wouldnt suffice.'
I only had enough traits to maintain my types.
These materials were four infection traits including the new Polluted Larva Host and Red Acid, plus one nest trait. Using them blindly would trash my Infection and Nest Enhancement types.
'Need to stockpile more traits first.'
After the Galleron fight, Id herd Glacial Fiends or Hellside Hornets for farming.
Shelving Transcendence, I fused Polluted Larva Host with Human-Faced Fly.
The trait took effect immediately, changing my body. During Mark of the Hunter, my head carapace hosted the Human-Faced Flies. Now, the five faces contorted wildly.
The embedded faces split vertically, insect legs and wings sprouting from within. Like butterflies emerging from pupae, wriggling worm monsters appeared. Touching the cold air dried their moist bodies, hardening them as crumpled wings unfurled.
Fresh from eclosion, they resembled hornetlings: six clawed legs, two wings, a mantis-fly hybrid body—all matching hornetling features.
Differences: larger size, and hornet heads replaced by intelligent ones. Giant insects wearing human masks.
"?!"
"■!"
"■■ ■■!"
"■■!"
"■■■!"
The awakened worms—no, Human-Faced Worms—freaked at their bodies. They retained fragments of originals' memories. Realizing they'd become bugs mustve been shocking.
Human-Faced Worm Host activated shortly before Mark of the Hunter ended. My body shrank, the bone scythe arm crumbling to dust.
The worms' nest shifted from head carapace to back. No more mask cluster—five tumor-like hives now housed them.
"■■■ ■■ ■■!"
The Jason-faced Human-Faced Worm shrieked something, glaring with leaking eye fluid.
Human-Faced Worm Host existed in the game too. Jason surely realized his fate.
And how much more miserable it'd get.
'Not that Ill go easy.'
Others Id swap genes post-use. Not Jason. Hed never be free till I died.
Ignoring his protests, I recalled the Human-Faced Worms. They obeyed my special pulse instantly, vacant-faced despite recent tears, returning to hives.
Trait applied and demo done, I turned to Adhai. It had licked the blood pool clean and was wiping blood from forelegs with tentacles.
'Wings look a bit changed.'
Red wavy patterns grew larger and more vivid—no other shifts. No sign of Black Galleron evolution.
'Maybe it needs Apex meat.'
Changes yes, but no dramatic leap like last time. Hellside Hornet was slightly below Sky Whale, both Apex—odd.
'Not quantity issue.'
[Zz zuzu (How's your body?)]
｢Feeling｣｢Good｣
[Zz zuzuzu zzuzuzu (Feel any stronger?)]
｢Patterns｣｢Changed｣｢Strength｣｢Difference｣｢Not sure｣
It noticed the pattern change but wasnt sure about power.
'No time to test.'
A day plus from hive departure. No telling Audgrad horde moves—lingering outside too long was risky.
｢Patterns｣｢Flashy｣｢Nice｣
Not sure on strength, but prettier wings and tail pleased it.
'No choice. Stick to plan.'
Hoped more Apex would trigger something impressive—none. If White Galleron emerged from Audgrad horde, Id ambush to evolve it.
'Time to head b... oh right.'
One last task before leaving.
[Zz zzuzu (Not hungry?)]
｢A bit｣
[Zuzuzu (Perfect)]
｢?｣
Adhai tilted its head.
A decent spot nearby to fill up: Hellside Hornet's cherished food storehouse.
'Waste it, and even it'd hate that.'
I led Adhai to the larder.
"Urk!"
Sihyun Yujin's subordinate, Colin Russell, groaned in pain from hitting the ground. After two weeks cocooned and dangling from the ceiling, he had finally escaped.
Even for Colin, trained in intense military drills, the past two weeks were nightmarish hell.
His supply unit from Sihyun Yujin's expedition was ambushed by a massive insect monster. It dragged him and a few men to this cave.
He expected instant death. Instead, it cocooned them in mucus from its body.
They rejoiced at survival. Not dying meant escape was possible.
Grievous miscalculation. The monster spared them for its peculiar diet.
It marinated his men one by one. Every three days, it dripped digestive fluid on cocoons. Trapped men melted in agony.
Once liquefied, the monster slurped them up.
Colin and survivors couldnt see, but the sounds were vivid: humans dissolving alive, then slurped like soup.
Men went mad. Colin's training prevented that. Suicide? Impossible.
Cocoons sustained primitive life support. Death was denied.
But Colin didnt quit. He scraped ceaselessly with nails. Blood flowed, nails shed—he persisted.
Two hellish weeks in, heaven granted opportunity: earthquake. Insect fled to investigate.
Last chance. Sans monster sounds, he scraped maniacally. Nails gone, fingers broken—no surrender.
Finally, he tore free, gasping fresh air.
"Cough! Cough..."
Hauling up, Colin hacked violently.
State dire: barely nourished skeleton, hands ruined.
Yet escape will fueled superhuman strength.
He scavenged flashlight, reinforced suit from strewn gear and corpses.
Escape sans suit meant freezing. Geared quick, he bolted out, memorizing route inbound.
Flashlight alone navigated the maze.
'Almost there!'
How far? Faint light ahead—sole exit from hell.
All strength poured into sprint. Last such desperation: stealing Galleron eggs long ago.
Nearly died hundreds times then—survived.
Today too.
He cleared vine-blocked entrance. Icy wind welcomed. Outside, craved endlessly two weeks.
Unchanged: white snow, pitch sky, dense trees, massive boulder.
'Boulder?'
Didnt recall it inbound.
Camouflage by monster? Earthquake tumble?
Neither.
Because the boulder moved.
"Huh?"
Not a boulder. The "rock" lunged.
```