Welcome To (2)
The kind of total annihilation that Ppareumbo had suffered wasn't unique to the wilds—it happened in civilized lands too. Outsiders driving out the native inhabitants and claiming their territory. The natives fought to the bitter end, but knelt before the invaders' overwhelming might. There were histories like that.
So this guy really got strong just to survive.
Once I pieced together Ppareumbo's past, he looked different. Not some freakishly strong from the start, but like me—someone who'd powered up out of necessity. He'd probably clashed big and small with the gorilla pack that took over his turf in the process.
Judging by how the gorillas trembled in fear...
He'd likely gone beyond just rampaging solo. And he had the brute force for it.
Either way, Ppareumbo was living with me now. Couldn't ask for a sturdier ally. That said, I still needed countermeasures. The gorillas could swarm tomorrow.
Should I move?
Relocation crossed my mind, but I scrapped it fast. Last resort. I'd have to abandon the barricades and tools as-is. More importantly, with the river so close, I had to hold this outpost.
I'll defend this place no matter what.
So how to make defense easy? Best bet: Lure them into the narrow cave mouth. Gorillas were huge. Max two could squeeze in at once. Easy to pick off one by one.
But will they play along?
Smart bastards who knew formations. No guarantee they'd follow my script. Still, better than nothing. I started sketching plans.
To use tight spaces like with the owl bear...
I'd need a door. Tougher than wood. The dwarf once said they'd smash any door anyway, so why bother. Fair point—build a way tougher one?
Simple fix. Someone might say just buy a safe, but slapping one in front of the door worked too. Tiny ones? Gorillas might straight-up steal 'em. Pass.
They've gotta have CCTV equivalents, right?
Dwarf for the door, ChangguPrincess for surveillance. She'd hook me up, but backups never hurt. I roughed out a setup and posted to the Gallery.
Anyone got stuff that records video? Not Gallery-related. YasaengGrill here—gorillas trashed my place, so beefing up security. Need something that films while I'm out. Heard there's relay orbs? Those work? Also building a door, super sturdy. Advice?
└Cheonma Won't the gorillas just smash the door?
└YasaengGrill Build one they can't smash.
└Cheonma Simple, yet a fine answer.
└SwordTasteStar Why not buy a safe? Even an owl bear body-slamming it'd shatter.
└YasaengGrill Got a box in mind already. Gorillas might haul the whole safe off.
└SwordTasteStar Gorillas that smart?
└YasaengGrill Easier to treat 'em like idiots lol.
└PassingDwarf You got a point. But that shit's insanely pricey. Hard buy.
└YasaengGrill 1kg Oriharukon?
└PassingDwarf This fucker's loaded.
└YasaengGrill lol
└Oriharukon vein in my front-cave dude;;
└Adamantium next?
└Not impossible. But that's deep underground, right?
└Grill mines it later, who knows?
└YasaengGrill Why would I mine, you clowns.
└ChangguPrincess Got what you need, Grills! Want one? :)
└YasaengGrill Cool, trade after Oriharukon cave tomorrow. Usage like mana orbs?
└ChangguPrincess No idea which orb, but similar! Oriharukon blocks heat too—I'll mod it for ya!
└YasaengGrill Thanks!
└ChangguPrincess Thanks how? ;)
└YasaengGrill Chaeyu invincible, Kone is god.
└ChangguPrincess Kyaa! Such sense! Perfect! :D
└No way he's simping that hard lmao
└Straight-up Changgu'd fr ㅋㅋㅋ
└Changgu-fied already ㅇㅇ
Leveraging the Gallery hive mind, we brainstormed shelter upgrades. Top priority: Narrow the cave mouth. Bricks like the oven.
Dwarf's on iron door duty.
Oriharukon-mixed, shock-absorbing like mana intake. Though way less than adamantium, he noted.
Actually mine for the real stuff?
Mandatory block-game grind: mining. Dizzying thought in the Four Seasons Forest. But needs must. I jotted plans, scanned the area.
Good they only nabbed Wall Valley Pills... elixirs gone? Disaster.
Hide valuables in corners, hard to find. Planning tweaks one by one, evening hit. River for fish traps, oven cooking—wrapping brutal day.
P.S. Fed Ppareumbo leftover Wall Valley Pills. Emergency stash lasts to breakfast.
Gorillas tomorrow?
Come they will not go down easy. Circulating internal power method, replayed leader gorilla fight.
Normally no stray thoughts in meditation. But oddly sharper focus. Breathing auto, mind replaying battle.
That rib shot? Invisible.
Carelessness cost, but final strike unseen. Out-of-sight launch. Note to self. Pirate manga future-sight? Nah, not yet. Image-trained bit by bit, then pure meditation.
"Hoo..."
Done. Opened eyes slow. Two weeks in Four Seasons Forest tomorrow. Feels months, but just two. Nonstop grind. Squeezed every second.
Still kinda fun tho.
Owl bear, saber tiger, Oriharukon guardians, leader gorilla. Tough nuts, but survived. Ppareumbo MVP, sure. But alive matters. I'll keep surviving.
No matter what.
Escape this hell.
*****
Next day dawned, straight to work. Raid or no, can't slack. Upgrades today—hustle.
"Ppareumbo. Last one."
"..."
"I'll scrounge more. Hang in full for now."
Final Wall Valley Pill. He eyed it sadly, then chomped. Pitiful, but tribute-payer me? Mixed feels. Worth it—extends my lifeline.
Cheonma said even she needs time for more.
Pricey herbs, week minimum. Hope we hold. Worst case, forage expedition. Adult mandrake grove means herb fields too.
Cave mouth narrow to here?
Started sealing entrance. Owl bear forced it wide—tight spots my edge.
Scouting tough, just Oriharukon cave.
Gorillas anytime. But marked turf strong, maybe not. Plus Ppareumbo. Unless horde...
Rustle- Rustle-
Checking mouth, rustling hit ears. Turned—grew louder.
"..."
Silently armed as it intensified. Ppareumbo sensed, hopped back. Wonmo sidled up.
Rustle boomed.
"...Purrrng."
Leader-sized bulk. But stance, looks all off. Guards knuckle-walked; this one bipedal.
Most... "…Clothes?"
Rags, filthy yellowed, faded white with black patches. But cloth. Left eye: five-claw scar. Milky blind.
Beyond suspicious—otherworldly. My take on new gorilla.
Human hand-me-downs?
Looks it. Decade-plus wear. Usually means 'heirloom,' but gorilla savvy?
And spears? What the hell?
Flank guards: spears, not clubs. Crude wood, but spears. Human-level evolution.
Gearing up as I eyed 'em—
Squeeze!
Shoulder gripped hard. Ppareumbo's hand. Glanced—frowning rare for stoic him.
That eye scar?
Puzzle clicking as boss gorilla side-eyed, nodded. Spear goon fetched something, handed over.
Whoosh!
Tossed my way. Not threat—gift vibe.
Thud!
Yellow oblong fruits. Bunches.
"…Bananas?"
Boss gorilla tossed bananas. Stumped at first. But yesterday? Apology. Bananas as peace offering.
Dazed stare back at boss.
And...
"Dooee bochi."
Gorilla spoke words. Garbled, but speech. Not beast roar.
...Fuck. Planet of the Apes confirmed.
A raw NO!!! screamed in my head.