Slave (3)
Let me say this upfront: just because I've figured out its weakness doesn't mean I can take control of the fight.
Even if this albino gorilla is weaker than the leader gorilla, it's still a survivor of the Four Seasons Forest. And it's managed that with the albino's signature white fur and poor eyesight as major handicaps. A single one of those beasts is a massive survival threat, yet this guy's come out unscathed. That means it has something to compensate for those penalties.
Thud!
The albino gorilla stomped the ground with its foot, sending a faint vibration rippling through the earth. At the same time, a massive palm came flying toward my face.
Luckily, I twisted my head just in time to dodge. But...
Kaboom!
Towering trees toppled like dominoes under the wind pressure. It wasn't as powerful as what the leader gorilla had shown, but it was still plenty strong. If that had hit me square, my head would've exploded.
'What is this, some kinda divine palm strike or something?'
What kind of martial art—no, internal art—did it learn to leave destruction like this? I'd gotten a rough idea from the leader gorilla, but the aftermath was beyond what I'd imagined.
I clicked my tongue inwardly and glared at the albino gorilla.
Thud!
The moment it swung, it stomped the ground again and followed up with a fist. With its shitty vision, it seemed to have switched to relying on its reach. Plant its stance, attack. Plant again, attack. Flashy, threatening assaults that were damn intimidating. It was a combo, sure, but so choppy it barely qualified.
'This won't last long, though.'
Classic "one-hit KO" type. One solid connect, and I'm done for. But even as the gorilla pushed its body hard, there was a noticeable gap between moves. Its eyesight handicap limited how well it could chain attacks to compensate.
If I could exploit that gap, I could counter.
'Even if it breaks my arm, I gotta keep that shield up.'
Against a beast like this, the shield was my lifeline. I'd dodge everything if possible, but it might have some trump card hidden. Plus, I was still more comfortable swinging my sword one-handed than two.
I read its patterns in detail, waiting for an opening.
Thud!
The albino gorilla stomped to attack. I darted in during that split-second gap. It didn't even notice, swinging right past me into empty air.
'As expected.'
The weakness was still valid—if the opponent moved fast right before the strike, it whiffed. That's probably how it'd kept opponents out of its range so far.
Squelch!
But if the enemy had even a bit of brains, they'd figure out the counter quick. Hell, it was a miracle this thing was still alive.
As the albino gorilla smashed empty air, I stabbed its foot with my sword. The blade pierced the top of its foot and burrowed into the ground. And that wasn't all.
Crackle! Crackle!
I added frost, and its foot started freezing over. Not gradually—it flash-froze from foot to knee in an instant.
"Urk?!"
The albino gorilla grimaced in pain from the stab, then jolted in shock. From that reaction, it clearly hadn't faced anyone with ice powers before.
Now was my golden chance. Before it could break free, I acted.
Krunch!
I stabbed its other foot, freezing that one too. Both legs were now locked in ice. With the gorilla's raw strength from earlier, it might've busted out... but nope.
'Yeah, the lower body's relatively weak.'
Gorilla physiology. They're built to knuckle-walk. Even if they live upright like humans, true bipedal movement is tough. The leader gorilla knew this too—that's why it never really kicked.
The albino struggled to escape, but breaking the ice with just leg strength wasn't easy. It had to deal with its frozen legs first. It raised its massive arms to smash the ice.
Crack!
"Uwaaagh!!"
But I was one step faster. I plunged my sword into one burly arm. Like the legs, it froze from arm to shoulder joint.
The ice was tough—the gorilla couldn't shatter it easily. With it flailing around, repressing the last arm was a breeze.
"Uwaaa!"
"Ah. Shut up."
Smack!
It thrashed to break free, so I bashed its face with my shield. It stayed conscious after one hit, so I gave it another. Finally, it went quiet.
Tongue lolling out, the gorilla slumped. I'd meant to knock it out, but it actually passing out felt off somehow.
Still, 'Would simple ropes really hold this thing?'
I pondered the unconscious albino gorilla. Like the leader, it could use mana. And it wielded some insane internal art, so ropes alone wouldn't cut it.
Crackle! Crack!
So I bound it tight with ropes, then froze everything but its head.
Wanted chains from the auction house, but they were sold out.
"Ppareumbo. I'm gonna check something quick—keep an eye on it."
"......"
"If it looks like it's escaping, smack its face."
Even if it tried, with Ppareumbo here, no worries. Before logging into the Gallery, I surveyed the devastation it'd wrought.
All my processed logs were gone, the area a total wreck. The shelter cave was intact—small mercy—but now I had even more work.
'Wanna use it as a worker somehow...'
I had a plan, but no clue if it'd work. First, time to post on the Gallery. Plenty of time to think.
Title: Caught an Albino Gorilla - YasaengGrill
(Photo of the albino gorilla frozen and bound with ropes)
(Photo of the devastation caused by the albino gorilla)
This bastard barged into my shelter and tried to rope me into fighting the leader gorilla with it. I said no, so it tried to kill me? Took it down for now, figuring out compensation.
ㄴCheonma: Not bad skills, huh?
ㄴYasaengGrill: Pretty strong, eyesight aside. If I hadn't met the leader first, might've been in trouble.
ㄴCheonma: Connected to that leader gorilla, then. Anything unusual?
ㄴYasaengGrill: Nothing besides its noticeably red palms.
ㄴCheonma: Blood-red palms... Doesn't sound like top-tier internal art.
ㄴSwordTasteStar: Yeah. Usually means possessed by some energy, right?
ㄴCheonma: You know your stuff. Black means demonic qi, red means blood qi... Time to interrogate.
ㄴYasaengGrill: Leader's palms were fine, though?
Cheonma: Hits different at higher realms. Means deep mastery of the art. Albino's weak; leader's insanely strong.
Albino gorilla's like me—learned the basics for survival, not in depth.
ㄴWhy gorilla personalities so trash? Stole from homes last time, now some no-name shows up lol
ㄴExpecting personality from gorillas? They're beasts;;
ㄴFair point. Convinced.
ㄴLeader's decent ㅇㅇ Let Grills live, right?
ㄴThat means trash personality helps survival?
ㄴNah, surviving makes you strong lol
ㄴDid the rootless gorilla talk?
ㄴYasaengGrill: Yeah? Spoke Jungwon tongue.
ㄴWhat'd you say when it babbled nonsense?
ㄴYasaengGrill: Cursed it out, went berserk?
ㄴlololololol
ㄴlolololol
ㄴTimeless pad lip that works on beasts lololol
ㄴWho taught gorillas Jungwon speech?
ㄴAsk when it wakes. Curious af.
ㄴYasaengGrill: First, what to do with it. ChangguPrincess around?
ㄴChangguPrincess: Why me~?
She'd been lurking, just not commenting. Was gonna DM anyway, but perfect timing. Could get info too, so replied publicly.
ㄴYasaengGrill: Sports players banned from mana use, right?
ㄴChangguPrincess: Obvi~! Could kill someone.
ㄴYasaengGrill: So tools for mana control exist?
ㄴChangguPrincess: For that gorilla~?
ㄴYasaengGrill: Yep.
ㄴShit, that's a slave lol
ㄴBad idea;; No mana, it'll just smash everything with strength.
ㄴGorilla dumb or not, rips humans easy;;
Most called it insane, said I'd die. Fair—gorilla strength shreds people like kimchi. And this albino uses mana, so even stronger physically. Suppressor won't fully solve it.
ㄴYasaengGrill: Chill. I'm in the same boat.
ㄴHow you same boat?
ㄴYasaengGrill: (Ppareumbo photo) My master, kids. Say hi.
ㄴLMAOOOOOOOOO
ㄴLOLOLOLOLOL
ㄴIt really was a slave lolololol
ㄴNever saw that coming lololol
ㄴGrills... wanted friends that bad?
ㄴComrade, not friend. But Ppareumbo changes things.
Gallery took it as joke, but half-joking half-serious for me. Skip tributes(?), and I'm dead. Albino threatens? Ppareumbo handles it easy.
ㄴChangguPrincess: Got something similar~. Old model, bit harsh—okay~?
ㄴYasaengGrill: What effects?
ㄴChangguPrincess: No key, can't remove. Mana use? Full-body shock~.
ㄴYasaengGrill: Perfect. Buying now.
ㄴChangguPrincess: No buy—gifting~. Tough to dispose.
ㄴThat's real restraint gear?
ㄴHeard they used that in slave era...
ㄴYup. Prisoners still use. Sports suppressors evolved from it.
Got the mana suppressor from ChangguPrincess. Shaped like a dog collar, spiked to prevent forced removal.
[ChangguPrincess: Put on gorilla, hide key~.]
[YasaengGrill: Thanks. What's this bracelet?]
She tossed in a bracelet too. Asked what—got a bewildering answer.
[ChangguPrincess: Gorilla touches you? It shocks too~. For safety~.]
[YasaengGrill: Uh... not from active slave era, right?]
[ChangguPrincess: Invented for ref protection~. Too much violence back then~. Useful~.]
[YasaengGrill: Thanks. Will use well.]
[ChangguPrincess: Thanks how~? hehe]
[YasaengGrill: Chaeyu is god, Kone is invincible.]
[ChangguPrincess: Perfect~! Game in two days—cheer hard~!]
Dunno what she wants, but hype cheers it is. Learned usage, fitted suppressor on albino gorilla.
"Ugh......"
Perfectly timed—it woke as I locked it on. Startled, but done, so observed.
The groggy gorilla stared, poor eyes squinting—who's this? But recognition hit quick.
"Uuu! Uuuu!"
Enraged, forgetting human speech. Red eyes glared murderously. It twitched, trying mana...
ZZZAP!!!
"Ukiiaaa!!!"
As ChangguPrincess said, massive shock from collar. Even mighty beasts equal before electricity.
To the properly zapped and docile albino gorilla, I said:
"Hey. Say it again. This is your shelter now?"
"Ugh......"
Didn't understand words, but got the mockery? It glared again—useless.
ZZZAP!
Shocked again, subdued instantly. Twice fried, it slumped.
Satisfied grin, I spoke:
"What was your name? Wi-baek?"
"Ugh......"
Someone said it: slaves don't need old names. Thought of a fitting one, smirked.
No clue if it'd get it—doesn't matter. Repeat till it does.
"From now on, you're Kkobong. Got it?"
Gallery after, now a worker too.