Chapter 40

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 40

Chapter Title: Predator of Skarnas

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A plump-assed bird was clinging to the shoulder of a crow, and next to it, a black ghost was peeking out.

A hellhound with three heads coexisting on one body.

Or rather, it was the form ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of a three-headed beast.

And that was me right now.

"Shwoong."

I wasn't too surprised by Shwoongshwoong on my back, but having Kiwi stuck right on my shoulder was a bit novel.

Even without any ability to merge into my body, it could cling on in such a safe and stable position.

Was this possible because of the Sage?

I regretted the choice I'd made when creating my character.

If I'd known traits were like this, I would've picked Sage too.

Maybe thrown in one more penalty for good measure.

...No, the penalties I had now were already no joke. Adding another would spell disaster.

All that was left were horrors like Hellgate Opening, Limb Severance, Terminal Illness, or Loss of Senses.

I'd gone with the Genius trait instead of Sage, so I'd just have to console myself with that.

For a fleeting moment, I wondered if that Genius trait was why I'd become a genius bird like a crow, but whatever. Did it matter?

"Hmm, it's definitely improved. It's only been a short while since the host of Eternal Night was purged, and already the ecosystem is visibly recovering. The unclean beings are either vanishing instantly or gradually losing their power, so they'll soon return to their true forms."

The Sage, who'd been looking around from my shoulder, said that.

With the host of Eternal Night gone, the affected creatures seemed to have naturally dissipated as well.

No more tralala-ing sharks, no rotten-fleshed hunting dogs.

On one hand, it was a shame.

There were still so many traits I hadn't stolen.

Especially that shark's traits—I'd wanted to snag them, but I'd never cross paths with it again.

Still, plenty of prey left to hunt.

Better to target ones with special traits like the Phishing Snake than those bony ones with their bland traits.

And even without trait-stealing, tasty meat beat rotten meat any day.

"Oh ho, perfect timing. There's a suitable fellow right there. That one's prime hunting material. Like honey hidden in rock. This gourmet guarantees it."

Kiwi had spotted prey.

Better listen to the Sage here.

I halted my soundless flight and perched briefly on a branch.

It hadn't noticed I was here yet.

For starters, it was bigger than me.

A bit larger than a Curse Hound, that'd be the comparison.

Brown fur mixed artfully with iron plating, and its face somehow looked familiar.

It had a hard shell reminiscent of an armadillo or pangolin, and its bulk matched an adult capybara.

Armadillo and capybara traits mixed together, huh?

Of course, calling a capybara ferocious was hard to believe.

The skills were whatever, but my eyes went to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the traits.

Setting aside Sturdy Back Shell, the two below really caught my attention.

Iron Teeth would probably translate to Iron Beak for me.

Might even be an upgrade over Sturdy Beak.

And Minor Nature Affinity?

No idea what that was.

Which made me curious as hell.

What the heck was Nature Affinity?

One more reason to hunt this thing.

But with that hard shell protecting it, it wouldn't be an easy catch.

Its soft belly was the weak point, as the status said, but it wasn't dumb enough to flip over.

A silent aerial talon snatch was out too.

So?

Time to test my brand-new skill.

Shwaaa.

The color of my feathers slowly changed.

My wings took on a reddish hue overall.

Yeah, like the sky at twilight.

I aimed at my target.

I leaped from the tree, angling my wings as I charged.

Shwaaaaaak!

My normally silent flight made noise now, thanks to the changed feather properties.

"Ar...?"

It noticed my ambush ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠because of that.

But no big deal.

What could it do even if it spotted the sneak attack? Hide in its shell.

Craaaaaack!

My crimson wings slammed satisfyingly into its back shell.

A sound no bird's wing should make echoed out.

"Graaaak!"

It screamed, taking a solid hit.

The shell held, but it wasn't unscathed.

Like slamming a hammer hard right on top of a helmet.

My wings were steel-strong, after all.

"Kwaaak!"

Truth be told, the hammer felt the pain too.

Its helmet was rock-solid, so the shock rebounded back at me.

"Shwoooooung."

"Hmm, feels like a typhoon in a teacup."

The passengers on my body felt it too.

They didn't take the direct impact, but they looked dizzy.

Wing-based melee seemed effective, but against something this armored, not the best choice.

I could tank the recoil and smash it first to win, but no need to go that far.

Twilight Feather had other effects.

"Ar...! Arrrrr!"

The Armadillo Capybara spun in rage at me.

Then it body-slammed my way.

Normally, I'd shadow-meld to dodge, but with Muna hanging on, no can do.

Shwoongshwoong could move with me, but this guy'd get left behind solo.

Maybe I should've left them on the tree, but shadow-meld aside, other counters worked fine.

Light gathered on my pumpkin-colored feathers.

Zwaaaang!

A burst of intense light blinded it instantly.

"Arrrrruk!"

Still, its speed didn't slow a bit.

That ferocity, huh.

The capybara whirled madly.

Fwoosh.

Flames gradually caught on it.

"...Kak?"

What the hell.

Why were flames on its shell?

Nothing like that in its traits.

"Hmm, even I would pass on taking that attack."

"Shwoong."

Me too.

That attack was seriously powerful.

Hard shell plus insane spin.

Plus friction fire.

Anyone hit would take lethal damage.

But it never reached me.

It didn't lose momentum from the flash, but it lost direction.

Fwooooosh!

Its attack veered wildly off course.

Still, no letting guard down.

It realized I wasn't there and twisted sharply to find me.

"Arrruk!"

It banked at an insane angle, charging me.

But it messed up.

In twisting, it exposed its weak point just long enough.

Underestimated the distance, probably.

But that range was within my reach now.

I flung a twilight-dyed feather at high speed.

Shweeeeeeak!

Sensing something ominous incoming, the capybara twisted to dodge.

But no escaping it.

I could steer that feather at will.

Call it a homing feather.

Pfoooo!

The steel-hard feather pierced its weak spot dead-on.

"Kweeeeeek!"

It screamed, and I rocketed toward it like an arrow.

Shweeeeeeak!

Kwachik!

Talons gripped its belly.

Peck! Peck! Peck!

I hammered the soft underside relentlessly.

The flow had fully turned my way; resistance was futile.

Targeting the weak point obsessively sapped its momentum.

Finally, I took it down.

"Kakakak!"

Being LV16, it netted me three levels at once.

And this shiny thing that dropped in front of me.

A feather containing the capybara's traits.

Anything from this guy would've been fine, so I eagerly checked it out.

"Shwoooong? Shung! Shung!"

Shwoongshwoong was thrilled I got a feather too, tugging at my head feathers with its tiny hands.

Oh.

Jackpot on the first try.

I'd been dying to know what Nature Affinity was.

"Shwoooong! Shwoooong!"

Yeah, yeah.

You too, huh?

"Kak?"

Pretty damn good.

Top-tier among the traits I'd gotten so far.

The catch was maximizing it on the ground, but whatever— I'd just land.

Maybe practice some kicks here?

Carrying on the will of that departed Metal Claw Crow.

"Shwoooong! Shungshungshung!"

Sigh, but why was Shwoongshwoong fussing so much?

Kept yanking my head with those stubby hands.

"Splendid. To fell it so swiftly. Among the beasts near Skarnas, few are stronger than you now."

It looked easy, but this was a formidable foe.

One solid hit from it, and I'd have lost big time.

But I beat it without my ace shadow-meld, so yeah—I was Skarnas's new apex predator.

"Kakakak."

"Shung! Shushushung!"

Used skills, leveled up, snagged a solid trait.

All that was left was feasting on the spoils.

With Gourmet Muna's stamp of approval, this meat had to be delicious.

"Shwaaaaang! Shwaaaaang!"

Ah, so that's why Shwoongshwoong was fussing—hungry too?

First mammal meat since arriving; I was excited too.

Best roasted, but no fire-starting means here.

Shadow flames only burned Eternal Night goons, not food, so no barbecuing capybara.

Any lightning gonna strike nearby?

Craving some warm, well-cooked meat.

"Hm, quite the aroma."

"Kakak."

Suddenly, the scent of well-cooked chicken wafted in.

Just like fried chicken.

Phishing Snake hunting somewhere?

This smell amped up my roast meat cravings.

"Shwoong...."

Shwoongshwoong stubbornly tried twisting my neck.

Gonna assassinate me by snapping it?

Sorry, but my bones are flexible—no dice.

Whirl.

See, I can turn my head li—

"Kak?"

Turning back, flames shot up into view.

My tail was on fire.

"Shwoooooung!"

"Kwaaaaaaak!"

When did it catch?

No wonder the chicken smell!

I rolled frantically.

"Oh? Thought you were building fire resistance by staying put."

As if!

Stumbled on a Twilight Feather downside by accident.

While active, my senses dulled weirdly.

Pain registered fine from the shell hit, so probably just flame sensitivity drops.

No clue why the fire link, but silver lining.

Found the flaw now.

And hey, free fire starter—finally, cooked meat.

A bit charred, but with regen, stuff myself and roll around after?

"Kakakak!"

Unhuman thoughts, but perfect for a monster.

"Shwaaaang!"

Shwoongshwoong, who'd been alerting me to the fire, got mad and whacked me with tiny arms.

Didn't hurt, though.

"Chwuaaaap!"

Kraaak!