Chapter 224
Chapter 224
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 224
Chapter Title: The White Queen's Dream
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The ship Ort was dreaming.
The Pure White Queen, mate to the great Od Grad, and a traitor.
She bore names of both praise and scorn, but it hadn't always been that way.
When she opened her eyes, a familiar face appeared before her. The black-scaled male she had met just as she shed her skin for pristine white scales.
His elegantly curved horns and eyes brimming with intelligence left a strong impression. His name was Od Grad.
Back when he had just become leader, he was an exemplary male, almost impossible to imagine now. He cherished his kin and the hatchlings more than anyone, and he knew how to handle crises with wisdom.
That was why she admired him. Not because he was the leader, but because she loved his wisdom, his strength, and his kindness.
His innocent face blurred for a moment, then sharpened again.
His face now was utterly different from before. The horns on his head and his sleek scales were the same, but there was one crucial difference.
The eyes once filled with keen intelligence were gone. In their place lingered only an unknowable rage and boundless hatred.
What could have turned such a kind being into this? Was it the crushing weight of leading the pack? Or some other reason?
The cause was unknown, but that wasn't the important part.
No matter the reason, the 'great' Od Grad she had loved was gone from this world forever.
The black leader commanded her.
Kill her daughter.
As the pack grew, more kin struggled to get proper nutrition. Even healthy hatchlings weakened whenever the stars shifted.
In such circumstances, her daughter—born small from the start—was nothing but a burden consuming food.
She knew he wasn't wrong.
Yet she wanted her daughter to live as long as she could.
Someday, her frail daughter might go hunting and get hunted instead. Or lose in food competitions with others and starve.
The world they lived in was harsh and cruel. She couldn't change that, and she knew it.
But killing her daughter just because she was useless—that, she wanted to avoid.
So she resolved herself.
She would use the thieves who came to steal the eggs.
The image of Od Grad before her faded like mist. In its place, a familiar darkness appeared.
In the infinite void she had gazed up at from nests and hunting grounds, she flapped her wings.
A small light glimmered far away.
It resembled the starlight that blessed her daughter's birth, but it was far smaller.
The light carrying her daughter as a shooting star shrank and vanished.
The moment the world plunged into darkness, she opened her eyes above the swamp.
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The Red Galleron ranks among the top ten most dangerous predators by threat level alone. Despite the name, it's so different from regular Gallerons that it might as well be another species.
They wield psychic power like normal Gallerons, plus a unique system called 'Dragon Power.'
Dragon Power techniques vary widely, but they share one trait: activating it bathes the body in red light.
This held true even for Adhai, the half-fledged Red Galleron.
Red dye spread from his wings and horns, coloring his body like spreading flames.
'Still immature.'
The fiery energy surging over his body was unmistakably Dragon Power, but it differed greatly from what I remembered.
Not blazing wildly like Adhai's, but a subtle red aura thinly coating his scales from head to tail.
Every Dragon Power technique is devastatingly powerful. No matter what, he needed to control it.
｢Too｣ ｢strong｣ ｢hard｣ ｢to control｣
[Zzu zzuzu zzuz (You can do it)]
｢Baby!｣ ｢Flap flap like before!｣
｢I'll｣ ｢try｣
Hearing me and No. 26, Adhai focused. The energy flows from his horns and wings mostly subsided, settling into place.
The residual energy seeped along the red wave patterns on his body. As he stabilized, a vivid red glow bloomed around his eyes.
It looked like he'd applied blood-red makeup.
｢Success｣
'Unstable, though.'
I could see his bravado plain as day, but I let it slide. Controlling that immense power so quickly was impressive enough.
[Zzuzzuzu zzuz zzuz (Got any usable power now?)]
｢One｣ ｢maybe｣
[Zzuzzuz (Try it)]
He stayed still, concentrating. Soon, red light flowed from his four wings, dyeing his head and forelimbs crimson.
｢Wow!｣ ｢Cool!｣ ｢Baby got tough!｣
No. 26, sensitive to energy and wavelengths, grasped Adhai's state instantly.
The technique's name was 'Red Armor.'
By canon, Red Gallerons concentrate Dragon Power on vital areas to maximize hardness. Just as No. 26 said, it toughens the user.
A plain ability for a boss monster, but it's the main reason Red Gallerons are so hard to kill.
'One of Space Survival's top defenses.'
Red Armor's key trait: no attack can pierce it.
Not God's Lash, Cosmic Bolt from the Imperial Mothership—nothing damages activated parts. As a Dragon Power tech, even my psychic-nullifying horns fail.
So a Red Galleron's weakness isn't head or heart. Only non-armored parts take damage.
'Problem is, real Red Gallerons cover most of their bodies.'
And they can shift unprotected spots at will.
A foe with insane specs, single weakness that moves constantly—only way to win. Dizzying difficulty.
'Even I struggled to hunt one.'
I watched other players, analyzed its behavior algo, pinpointed weakness patterns, barely took it down.
'And failed to get the Gene Essence—that was the real trap.'
Weeks wasted, had to start over.
Anyway, immature Adhai only armored head and forelimbs. With practice, he'd expand the range.
Then no more worrying about his life.
'Was worried 'cause he's small. Good.'
｢Feels｣ ｢weird｣
[Zzuz zzuzzu zzuzzuz (Ram a tree with your head)]
｢Hurts｣ ｢no like｣
[Zzuz zzuzzuz zzuz zzuzzuz (Won't hurt you)]
He hesitated, then approached a tree. He rammed it with his head horn; it toppled limply.
｢Cool｣
[Zzuz zzuz zzuzzu zzuz zzuzzuzz zzuzzuz (With that power, you'll never get hurt)]
He tapped the fallen tree with his now-hard forelimbs, then looked at me.
｢You｣ ｢don't know｣ ｢big grown-up｣ ｢how｣ ｢know?｣
[Zzuzzu zzuzzu zzuzz (Saw one before)]
｢Not｣ ｢me｣ ｢star power｣ ｢kin｣ ｢more?｣
[Zzuzz zzuz (None now)]
｢?｣
He tilted his head, but I had nothing more to say. Couldn't admit it was from a game.
'Gonna have to tell 'em someday.'
That I'm an outsider.
I must leave this world, return home. That's my goal all along.
But as I near it, conflicting elements grow: No. 26, Adhai, Mother of the Sky, PS-111.
What happens if I go? Will they be fine? Miss me? Mother of the Sky, another player—can she return with me at the ending?
Lost in thought, No. 26 sent a wave.
｢Big grown-up knows everything. Amazing.｣
｢Agree｣ ｢big grown-up｣ ｢cool｣ ｢strong｣ ｢smart｣
｢Big grown-up has lots accessories, super big body.｣
｢Horns｣ ｢wings｣ ｢all cool｣
Starting with No. 26, they poured out pure feelings. I stroked them with my wing arms instead of replying.
'Can't decide now.'
No need today.
But someday, inevitably. To avoid regrets, keep pondering.
[Zzuzzuzu zzuz zu zzuzzuz (You all are my greatest gift)]
｢Gift? Big grown-up hungry?｣
｢I｣ ｢get｣ ｢big grown-up words｣ ｢means｣ ｢I'm｣ ｢little grown-up｣ ｢precious｣
Ever-innocent No. 26, proud-of-growth Adhai. Me, who couldn't bond deeply even in reality. As he said, to my flawed body and heart, they're precious.
'...Why this now?'
Sentiment's fine, but work remains. I pulled away, sent next task via waves.
[Zzuuuuu zzuz zzuz zzuzz zz (Adhai, release power now)]
｢Check｣ ｢released｣
Dragon Power faded; body returned to normal.
[Zzuz zzuzzu zzuz zzuz zzuzz zzuzz (Good. Now attack me with your usual power)]
｢Check｣ ｢attack｣ ｢big grown-up｣ ｢...?｣
｢Itchy?｣ ｢Scratch?｣
Too clipped; they didn't get it. I explained step by step.
｢Big grown-up｣ ｢kin power｣ ｢damage｣ ｢more｣ ｢take｣ ｢adapt?｣
[Zzuz zzuzzuzz zzuz zzuz zzuzz ((Yes. New power from growth)]
｢Can't understand｣
Adhai struggled, since he'd attack me directly.
Mimic Scales unfamiliar to Gallerons. Especially for Adhai, who'd evaded attacks lifelong due to frailty.
｢Big grown-up｣ ｢says｣ ｢always｣ ｢good｣ ｢so｣ ｢follow｣
[Zzuzz (Thanks)]
After more explanations, he got it.
Adhai backed away. While he prepared, I briefed No. 26.
｢Like punishing bad flappers?｣
[Zzuuuuu zzuz zzuzz zzuzz (Just deflect so it doesn't hit Adhai)]
｢Yup. Big grown-up little grown-up both trust me.｣
Reason I planned enemy fights for Mimic Scales activation: my trait, 'Psionic Reflection Armor.'
It auto-reflects 30% of psychic damage back. If Adhai were full-sized tough Galleron, he'd shrug it off.
But he's fragile; defense below Green Galleron.
Glass cannon flyer. 30% backlash could kill.
'That's why No. 26.'
Expert psychic manipulator. He can nullify or redirect reflected energy.
'With Red Armor later, solo maybe...'
Now, Adhai's too green; needs No. 26.
Preparations done. Distanced Adhai sent waves.
｢Me｣ ｢now｣ ｢attack｣
[Zz (Yeah)]
｢Hurts｣ ｢say｣ ｢stop｣
[Zzuzzuzz zzuz zzuzzuzz (Full power, no worry)]
He nodded slightly.
Soon, vivid purple leaked from mouth tentacles. Dense psychic power solidified into energy orbs.
First shot fired. Slicing air, psychic breath trailed by second, third volleys.
Adhai's unique breath—not used by other Gallerons—rushed me.
First hit my head crest, shock rippling through. Pain registered as more hammered the spot.
But my pain's secondary. Watch where attacks go.
Psionic Reflection Armor activated independent of will; 30% energy reflected. Some toward Adhai, some to No. 26.
No. 26 caught every bit.
His tentacles waved like conductors. Energies gathered, shot skyward.
'Perfect.'
[Zzuzzuzz zzuz (Just like that)]
Practice synced us fast; first try flawless.
Repeated many times.
Adhai hesitated seeing my mangled crest, but I recovered quick, convinced him: practice for Od Grad fight.
Whether convinced or sensing need, he attacked without pause after.
After ~30 hits.
My carapace and exoskeleton shifted. Hard surfaces turned jelly-like.
Text up as Adhai's breath came again.
Massive energy shook my head crest—no pain, just impact.
'Done.'
Mimic Scales ready.
'Three days ahead.'
No Galleron—not even Black Dragon Od Grad—could harm me.