Tears Strengthen – The Instinct of Monsters

Tears make you stronger. That's a monster's instinct. Probably second only to survival in priority. That's what sets beasts apart from monsters.

Stronger, tougher, faster. And bigger. To achieve that, monsters endlessly repeat their evolutions.

The Silverback Chimpanzee Akimus must have sacrificed size during his evolution. Big things can't climb trees well or speak easily. Their throats and vocal cords grow massive, losing the advantages of speech. Plus, a huge body consumes far more food than it's worth. Forest resources are finite. Instead, he must have wished to be fast and strong.

Riok was different. Was it because he was a "bug" where small was natural? Or because his kind clearly favored weight classes for power? Or maybe because he devoured anything and grew up in a swamp rich with vegetation. Above all, he must have obsessed over size in his evolution. That horrific hunger of his was probably to sustain that bulk.

Then what about Father? How did he evolve into such a colossal monster? I'd pondered ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠that before. Probably to survive. A small snake can do almost nothing in the Great Forest. He must have grown to hunt foes larger than himself. Or maybe for courtship. Unlike me, Father likely had instincts drawing him to similar snakes. Perhaps Mother, the Medusa Serpent, was his senior. Big, powerful males are popular, after all. Maybe Father bulked up to win her heart...

I'd spun such fantasies. But Giantification. Why hadn't I imagined that? There were plenty of clues, even ignoring his chronic mana shortage. Father often vanished suddenly. Not teleportation—he'd just blink out of sight without a trace. Was that actually releasing Giantification?

The first time we met, too. He was sleeping between rocks. How? Squeezing that massive body in was impossible. If he'd originally been small, slipped in, then used Giantification, it made sense. And when I peeked at his status window, he startled. Was that why?

'Why do that?'

He could've just used it in fights. But I couldn't blame him for saving me and collapsing. Holding Giantification while devouring his own body wasn't rational.

Eh, personal reasons, I guess.

My growth halted. Now I overlooked even Riok. Smaller than Father, but enormously bigger. Mana shortage brought nausea. Above all...

My body felt terrifyingly heavy.

'This is Father's weight!'

Now I understood. The constant burden and responsibility he'd borne...

—That's not a father's weight; it's your own body weight. Of course it's heavy without the strength to match.

Pellelian ruined the mood. His ring, enchanted for size adjustment, was now hula-hoop sized, but he remained the same.

—Bigger or not, your essence hasn't changed.

'The speaker's too tiny to hear.'

—What.

Still, I got Father a bit more now. Riok didn't scare me anymore. I had to save Father, but it felt doable. I charged him.

That body weight crushed monster corpses that would've once tangled my feet. Moving felt like swimming—burdensome—but I summoned full power and ran.

"Kweeeeeek!"

Riok roared back. You filthy bug! Somehow, Giantification made me want to bellow that.

'Behold—!'

With thunderous roar, I leaped. Secret technique. Giantification Leap.

'Uwaaaah!'

—It lifted! It lifted. About 10cm off the ground. At normal size, it'd be arrow-like; now, this was the limit. I didn't reach Riok. But I landed with a boom right in front of his nose.

Kwaaaang!

Dust erupted. Not bad. My mass's inertia was immense.

I slammed into him amid the dust. Kwoong!

Hellish chaos began. I coiled around his body, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠dodging his two remaining legs, squeezing that swollen belly. Then sank fangs into his head.

Uwaaak! Something wriggling entered my mouth. Chills—spit it out, disinfect with fire. Biting to death? Nah. Instead, I tensed.

Wadddddrk!

At least my muscles could move this body now. Riok flapped wings and kicked legs—useless. He'd taken heavy wounds fighting Father.

"Kweeeeeek!"

Up close, even more loathsome screech. Die!

Crack, pakjik—Cracks spidered his carapace. Vicious spines protruded, but my scales matched—thickened by Black Scale.

Giantification would end soon. How much mana did Father have to sustain it so long?

'Uwaaaah!'

Ppakjik! His thin neck snapped; head thudded away. Body twitched on, but time-limited. Like squeezing overripe black banana.

Kwajajak!

He spectacularly burst, crushed. Got him. A named monster, exhausted and wounded.

Level-up feast unfolded.

'Hahk, heuk.'

Exhausted, but couldn't rest.

—Hey, roll!

'Uwaaaah!'

I followed Pellelian's advice. Arm-thick parasites writhed from dead Riok. Rolled to prevent clinging.

Pupupuk—Don't listen; nauseating. Exposed to air, they stiffened and died. Fortunately.

Stood quickly. Giant now—time to finish business. Gross, sticky...

Sliced his corpse with tail. Half-crushed—manageable. Heart... there'd be one. Sure enough, named monster had a Magic Stone.

Disinfect, just in case.

Hwaruruk! Flames enveloped the stone. Nasty remnants smoked black. Shoved into subspace hastily.

Back to Father, quick.

Giantification finally released. Growing took time; shrinking was instant. Back to normal size. Whew, light. Lighter means run harder.

Squeezed scant mana, raced back. Ah, gorilla there. Smart Chammo. She'd led monsters around to secure ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Father's spot.

Gorilla waved at me. "Com-maaander!"

Then yelled, "Hurry—up!"

Ominous dread surged. Already hurrying. Faster, quicker.

Skill-ups barely registered. Reached subordinates.

From beyond: "Hwik, heuk." Sobs.

Who the hell's crying like a loser! I shoved through madly.

Father still down. Alive—thank god. Semi-conscious maybe. Beside him, collapsed weeping...

'...Who the hell is that?'

—Asking me? How should I know.

First human woman I'd seen. Red-haired in leather pants, tears streaming.

"Uwaaaaaah!" Not sniffling—wailing. Creepy. So absurd Black Scale nearly dropped.

And she cried, "Daaaddy... Huweee, Daaaddy..."

Spine chilled. If not Father's bastard or my half-sister from forbidden humanization, then obvious.

'Crazy bitch...!'

Calling wounded snake "Daddy"? Not sane. How'd she appear mid-Great Forest?

Gorilla whispered cautiously. "She popped up, beat our kids..."

Now noticed monsters downed near her and Father. Tried attacking her, got wrecked.

"All alive... And she gave that cool snake potion."

Her? Impression improved. Boldly approached.

She yelled like she knew me. "Little—snakey! Hu-huuu."

Not little. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Just snake now. Got Giantification. Impression dropped.

"So, mooooving. Uhuheuk."

Misunderstanding cleared. Her "Daddy" was her human dad.

"Your dad was so cool too. As cool as my dead dad. Hu-huheuk. Watched the whole time..."

Humans... Empathize with snakes? How long watching?

'You knew?'

—Nope.

'Creepy.'

Stalked us unseen. Watched struggles, got emotional?

"Fuheheheuk. Uuuk." Vomiting from sobs. Stop crying, creepy.

"I should've... done like you... Uheheuk."

'...'

"Then Dad... wouldn't have died..."

Some backstory. Muttering past regrets—didn't care. Ignored, approached Father.

'You okay?'

「Fine.」

"Snaaake talked!" She startled mid-sob. First talking snake? Stopped crying—good.

'Why still lying down?'

「Tired.」

Lived—relief. But not fully healed.

—That damage? Potion won't fix it quick.

'Magic Stone? Or inner core...'

—Inner core! Feed him that.

Right, stones need energy to digest. Poison worry, but fed spider core. Father resisted, then swallowed. Looked better.

"Kkeee!" Turned at cry. Daegari approached, carrying Wangnuni.

"Kke, kke." Placed immobile Wangnuni before me. No potion. Eyed human woman. Not calling crazy now, please...

"Potion? Sniff, okay..." Sane-ish, sprinkled on Wangnuni.

"Giving monsters potions... Unreal."

"Kkekke..." Weak cry. Good job, you too.

Father, Wangnuni, Daegari. Me too—survived. Brutal fight. Bitter taste, though. World doesn't go to plan.

That massive root. Silver monkey already midway up. He'd claim the radiant fruit.

Then Father rumbled gravely. 「If monkey eats, revenge certain...」

We'd repelled Akimus jointly before. Vicious temper. Logical grudge.

「Must get that fruit.」

Tail pulled me close. 「Must.」

Quiet Father spoke most today. Couldn't cheerfully agree. How? Primates still guarded root. Catch Silverback Akimus? Win even if caught? Digesting stone would take time.

"Hey."

Human woman interjected. "Name's Hairit Langrei."

Okay. Didn't ask.

"Hunt monsters for living, hobby's making clothes from hides."

Jumped startled. Terrifying human. Threatening us?

"Watched to hunt you. Changed mind."

Dangerous. Skilled, surely.

"Changed to catching that monkey instead..."

She bashfully scratched ground. "If want, take you there. Small price."

'...'

"Really can. I'm fast too."

Bounced to show. Surprised—leap rivaled my Predator Leap.

"Don't want...?"

Not no—concerns. Dragged hidden gorilla lady. Interpreter asked.

"What... price?"

"Oh, nothing much!"

Hairit Langrei's face lit. I gulped tensely.