Honey and Chocolate
Gghouls and Tcho-cos. I consider them the next evolutionary step beyond Mugite’s original race, which first became Sugar Lumps before diverging even further.
With the plague having culled so many Sugar Lumps, and with the survivors already split between herbivorous Magic Sugar Lumps and carnivorous Martial Sugar Lumps, the appearance of these two highly specialized creatures after so much time had passed was, in hindsight, inevitable.
Although the Sugar Lumps had evolved from the same ancestral stock, they had differentiated so extremely that any lingering sense of kinship vanished after the plague. They are now separate species—more different from each other than monkeys are from apes. It is strange how creatures with common origins can become so utterly unlike one another.
Let us begin with the Gghouls.
The Gghoul’s prototype is the Magic Sugar Lump. As an evolution from that line, they are naturally large-bodied with prominent bellies and capable of eating grass. More importantly, they possess outstanding computational ability and memory, allowing them to wield magic and enjoy a wide range of cultural pursuits.
The most striking difference is their size. Even among Magic Sugar Lumps they stand out. Average height reaches two and a half meters. Their weight, given their robust frames, falls between four hundred and six hundred kilograms. Specimens exceeding three meters and one ton occasionally appear, though those seem to be mutations. Even the smallest adults measure no less than two-point-two meters.
When they run they drop to all fours and can reach roughly fifty-five kilometers per hour, but they cannot sustain the pace for long. Usually they walk. Walking conserves energy and lets them use their arms to pluck fruit from Gumi Trees or harvest jungle produce.
The Gghoul’s greatest distinction is that it is the only carnivorous variant of the Magic Sugar Lump lineage. The Magic Sugar Lumps themselves had been engineered from an originally omnivorous race into strict herbivores; the Gghouls then flipped that script once more.
They are active scavengers that devour corpses with enthusiasm. Relatively slow, they prefer massive prey. Because they hunt in packs, even Caramel Camels are nothing more than game to them.
They cannot, however, easily digest dough-based or jelly-based organisms from the Dessert Legion. Their stomachs seem incapable of processing those mineral-heavy bodies. Instead they consume ordinary flesh, with corpses as their absolute favorite—whether they kill the prey themselves, scavenge fresh carcasses, or steal from another predator’s kill.
They form packs, possess great size, high intelligence, and the ability to wield magic even if they cannot craft tools. If such creatures were not the apex predators of their ecosystem, the universe would be broken. Many hero-grade and higher individuals have already emerged among them, and several thriving clans now dominate wide territories.
Their society revolves around polygamous harems led by the largest males. When the alpha is a hero-grade entity that does not age, younger males frequently splinter off to found their own groups. To avoid inbreeding, alphas regularly exchange members with other clans, sending daughters to other packs or accepting new wives.
They even practice a form of dowry culture. Females possess some combat ability, though they are noticeably smaller than males—still larger than Homo sapiens. A departing alpha will gift his favored daughter with food stores, useful tools, or magical knowledge, asking the new patriarch to treat her well.
Gghouls can serve any Dessert Legion Commander. Much like adding honey makes any dessert taste better, they adapt to any master.
Those who follow Yogur-tosoth have completely supplanted the biological niche once occupied by Magic Sugar Lumps and their subspecies, the Lazy Sugar Lumps. They worship Yogur-tosoth, accept his teachings, and command the most powerful spells in the legion.
Gghouls serving Shuc-rimmurath act as the shepherds of Creamland. They manage the Dark Rim, using magic to excavate soil and feed the Bread Legion. In exchange they receive cream, glittering metals, and precious gems.
Those loyal to Nyaltartep have become master gardeners. The earlier baboon and proboscis variants of Magic Sugar Lumps are largely extinct; these Gghouls now tend plants, harvest fruit, and fiercely defend their botanical domains.
Few serve Chaltteoggua, but relations remain cordial.
Gghouls under Wafflach-Nacha function as jungle hunters. They perform rituals and sacrifices for their commander, craft waffles, and expand territory alongside the surviving Mitomok biomes.
At this point one might ask: are these not simply another humanity? Yet they cannot build civilization for one simple reason.
Their dexterity is abysmal. For reasons unknown, the fine muscles in their fingers have degenerated sharply. They cannot perform delicate manipulations at all.
This is not the mild inconvenience of “they make poor tools.” Throwing objects with any accuracy is already difficult for most species; these creatures cannot even toss something straight up and catch it on the way down. Naturally, shaping stone or wood into blocks and stacking them is impossible.
Why would such a useful trait atrophy? Having eyes is always better than lacking them, yet cave-dwelling creatures routinely lose their vision because sight is merely advantageous, not essential. The same logic applies here. The “disability” of poor manual control simply never exerted enough selective pressure to be corrected.
Gghouls possess powerful jaws, immense strength, and versatile magic that covers a broad spectrum. In other words, they can bring down large prey with area-effect spells. Delicate control is unnecessary. Their meals are torn apart by raw power and crushing bite force—rotten meat, bones, and marrow alike.
While many spells do require finesse, the brutal environment of the Dessert Desert rarely demands it. Giant creatures are abundant. Therefore they ignore prey that would require precision, scavenge corpses, and blast wide-area magic at slow, massive targets. Simple. Effective.
In actual combat, however, they are terrifyingly proficient. Unless one reaches the level of Sesaisa’s Kogogi, few mages can stand against them. This despite the fact that they are still beasts who speak in slurred, guttural tones.
After analysis, that is the general picture. Will you take them?
“Of course. They will make splendid servants for the Yo race.”
Mihun enlarged their frames further, raised their intelligence, transformed their fur into horns, abandoned all hope of delicate movement, and compensated with even greater physical strength and magical potency. He modified several hundred and dispatched them. The local Bisyakheets attacked, claiming the territory as their own, only to discover that a flying species’ fragile durability was no match for Gghoul might. They were forced to surrender part of their domain. Mihun named the new arrivals the Dangmil race. The name hardly matters.
Now for the Tcho-cos.
These possess a build similar to Homo sapiens, though leaner and somewhat smaller. They lack body hair; instead their skin is thick and regenerates rapidly from injury. Unlike Gghouls, they can digest the metallic and mineral-based life forms of the Dessert Desert.
Their society practices promiscuity on a grand scale. They form the largest possible groups, splitting only when conflict arises or paths diverge. Leaders exist, but multiple alphas can coexist within the same band, and even lower-ranking individuals are capable of speech.
Their intelligence is genuinely high. Many appear to match true Homo sapiens in cognitive ability.
Their dexterity is equally impressive. They can operate the automated factories left behind by Wahando’s long-limbed race, smelt metals, manufacture goods, and even produce cream.
At this point they might as well be human—perhaps even superior. Yet they too suffer from inherent racial defects.
First, they are extremely vulnerable to infectious mental diseases. It makes sense. While Gghouls and other Magic Sugar Lumps evolved powerful immune systems against the plague, the Martial Sugar Lumps could not. Most died. The survivors became the Tcho-cos. Instead of immunity they developed bizarrely resilient internal organs capable of enduring illness. A strange survival strategy, yet here they are.
As a result, most suffer from mental illness that lowers intelligence or destroys concentration. Only the rare individuals who develop resistance or spontaneously recover can display genius-level intellect; the rest function at average human capacity at best.
Consequently their combat ability is actually lower than their Martial Sugar Lump ancestors. Senses, strength, durability—everything is reduced. They evolved solely to survive the plague. That is evolution for you.
As a bonus, they make excellent vectors for biological warfare. They can carry plague into enemy worlds without harm.
The second flaw exists independently of the infectious madness. Life in the brutal Dessert Desert has left every last one of them with what looks like clinical anger-management issues.
They enjoy labor and craftsmanship and work diligently, but any social friction or setback is resolved through immediate physical violence. They cry easily, rage easily… yet they show remarkable restraint before those stronger than themselves. What a defective species.
Nevertheless, they serve the Dessert Legion Commanders and have formed symbiotic relationships with other desert life forms. Their talent for construction seems to be the key that opens many doors.
Few Tcho-cos serve Yogur-tosoth. They show little interest in magic or the rewards he offers.
Those under Shuc-rimmurath have replaced the hermit-crab workers. Their craftsmanship is clumsy but sufficient to earn compensation.
Tcho-cos serving Nyaltartep drive off or devour flying creatures that come for fruit, eliminate pests, and construct barns, shades, and other farming infrastructure. They till the soil alongside the plants they protect.
Those who follow Chaltteoggua hunt alongside the rice-cake warriors, bringing down massive prey. I have even witnessed some groups taking down Bisyakheets. Their true goal seemed to be the Nectar inside rather than the birds themselves. They also build houses and tools for the rice cakes.
Tcho-cos serving Wafflach-Nacha act as elite hunters alongside the Mitomok biomes and Gghouls. They are also excellent builders. Like Jumito before them, they know how to restore ruined cities.
Overall, they are simply foul-tempered humans. Their inability to form civilization stems from environment rather than innate incapacity. With proper education and selective breeding for temperament, they could integrate into civilized society almost immediately.
Their combat ability is inconsistent, yet they are versatile, physically strong, and—most importantly—utterly submissive to those stronger than themselves.
These are the creatures. Will you take them?
“Naturally I will take them. In fact, I rather like them.”
Mihun adjusted only their emotional regulation and immediately deployed the Tcho-cos as a servant race for the Yo people. Named the Jogo race, they cooperated with their homeland comrades—the Dangmil (Gghouls)—to establish territory within the Yo domain almost overnight. Since they themselves could become ascetics, their numbers spread rapidly.
They even traveled to the human territories to learn the methods of crafting dharma instruments and tools. The development of Mihun’s world was dazzling.
I likewise fine-tuned the Gghouls and Tcho-cos within my own ecosystem, diversifying them into more specialized subspecies and assigning each to serve under particular legion commanders.
When the adjustments were largely complete, I finally broached the real topic.
“Now then, Mihun. The time has come. The creatures are ready, but I need the technique.”
“Hahaha! Indeed! The hour to pay the price has arrived. Speak. What technique do you desire? Name it, and this immortal shall impart any art you wish.”
I shifted my viewpoint and moved with him to the Milky Way. When Mihun saw the fifteen majestic satellites arrayed there, his expression grew intrigued.
“Oh… those are…”
“No need for lengthy explanations. Sesaisa said the subject lay outside his expertise and that he would be unable to help. You, however, are different. I intend to create the sixth legion commander using these satellites as raw material. Teach me how to transform the power of stars into a mighty living being.”
“Hehehe… What an utterly outrageous demand. Turning stars themselves into living creatures.”
“Yes. Is it impossible?”
Mihun flashed a refreshingly bright smile and laughed.
“If it were not for this immortal, who in all the realms could possibly grant such a preposterous request?”
As expected. Our True Immortal truly can do anything.