Ch.191Proof of a Formidable Foe (2)

“Do you really want to choose ‘Flame of Hallucination’ as a material? This choice cannot be undone.”

A translucent text box appeared again, as if asking if this was truly the best choice.

The reason I chose Flame of Hallucination instead of “Space Bacteria” was twofold.

First, because of the enemies I would have to face on this planet.

Gallergorn is a master of psychic techniques. Even a White Gallergorn is a monster capable of firing psychic breaths. To fight them, I need multiple weapons that utilize psychic power.

‘But all my psychic-type traits are either supportive or defensive.’

The only offensive psychic techniques I have are Flame of Hallucination and the psychic breath I can use with Monster Tentacles, but both have fatal flaws.

Flame of Hallucination only works on Blue Gallergorn and is completely ineffective against anything stronger. As for psychic breath, while powerful, it has limited uses.

Given my lack of offensive psychic traits, sacrificing Flame of Hallucination to gain a new technique would be beneficial.

The second reason is my relationship with Voltex One.

If, as I expect, psychic traits and perks combine to manifest as Voltex One’s power, it will become an extremely powerful trait.

‘Even in the game, everything related to them was useful.’

All traits possessed by Voltex One are unique traits. Therefore, when you hunt them and the predation effect appears, you’re guaranteed to get a unique trait.

‘Of course, there are risks too.’

To put it simply, the blessing bestowed by Voltex One is high-risk, high-return. Power received from transcendent beings is never free.

Like Psyonium, which decreases in duration each time it’s used, abilities either weaken with each use or require an increasing price to pay.

That’s why Coldblood players who took the sect route tend to weaken significantly in the mid to late game.

‘If it’s related to Voltex One’s power, I’ll have to use it as a trump card.’

Like God’s Whip.

I selected confirm on the translucent text box’s question.

Then a new message appeared.

“This is a target for the Trait Enhancement System. Would you like to use the system?”

Trait Enhancement System.

This is the new system that came with the message when I first unlocked the space monster type. I checked the contents of the “Trait Enhancement System.”

“Trait Enhancement: When fusing traits through a special process, you can use common traits as materials to enhance them. The maximum number of materials is 10, and fusion and unique traits cannot be used as materials.

Applicable targets: ‘Unique Trait Synthesis System’, ‘Token of Formidable Foe System’, Unidentified”

Come to think of it, this is the first time I’m using the Trait Enhancement System. When I killed Muriel, this system wasn’t unlocked yet, and the new unique trait hasn’t appeared in the system yet, perhaps because the conditions haven’t been met.

It’s my first time selecting traits to create a Token of Formidable Foe, and my first time using the Trait Enhancement System.

‘…This is definitely a situation that could be called an important crossroads.’

I felt this way when I first encountered Space Survival.

Curiosity about an unknown result, and fear and anticipation about the butterfly effect this choice would trigger.

With that peculiar feeling, I checked what traits I could use as materials.

‘Currently, physical traits make up the largest portion of my traits.’

I have a total of 18 physical traits. Excluding fusion traits that can’t be used as enhancement materials, that leaves 13.

‘To maintain the physical enhancement type, I need 10 traits.’

Therefore, I can invest up to 8 physical traits as enhancement materials. Of course, I don’t plan to use all 8, just a few of them.

‘Let’s use traits related to underwater living.’

Traits related to underwater activity aren’t immediately helpful in combat. While there’s likely water on this ice planet, the beings I’m trying to catch aren’t particularly related to water.

I selected traits that aren’t frequently used or are easy to acquire.

‘From the physical category, Pheromone Enhancement, Robust Vitality, Webbed Feet, Fins, and Dexterity. That’s 5.’

For the rest, I picked less useful traits from other types.

From psychic-related traits, Memory Tracking; from infection-related traits, Auditory Parasite; and from nest-related traits, Sticky Paddle and Water Ghost Pustule.

After selecting a total of 9 traits, I reviewed once more to check for any potential issues.

‘This should be enough.’

After confirming and selecting the 9 traits as enhancement materials, the Token of Formidable Foe system finally began to operate.

“‘Jason (Jason Tunningham)’s perk and ‘Flame of Hallucination’ trait are fusing. ‘Chaos Po■-℃≒∬￥ Trait Enhancement System intervention!”

“Trait modification in progress”

“Evolved into ‘Abyssal Chromatics’ trait!”

“Abyssal Chromatics: When activated, it wraps your body in indescribable colors. Colors are automatically applied to psychic-type traits.

*Applicable targets: Monster Tentacles, Watcher of Fear, Psychic Reflection Armor

*P.S.: Fear cannot be controlled. Likewise, unknown colors cannot be controlled.”

As the new Token of Formidable Foe was completed, translucent text boxes popped up everywhere. Suddenly, my head felt heavy. After staggering slightly, I straightened my posture and checked the description of the new trait.

‘What is this?’

The finished result was completely different from what I expected.

‘It’s not an attack-related trait?’

From the description, this trait also seems closer to a supportive trait. Of course, I can’t be certain until I try it.

More concerning is the postscript. Unlike usual, the ominous meaning in those words really bothers me.

‘Uncontrollable?’

In Space Survival, there are occasionally equipment or traits that players cannot control. Some are very powerful, while others are awkward to use. Though they vary, the key is how to overcome the common limitation of being uncontrollable.

In my experience, uncontrollable traits were as tricky to use as “Revenant Organ.”

‘I need to experiment to see how to operate—huh?’

Distracted by the newly acquired trait, I only now noticed that my surroundings had changed.

‘Where’s Sky Mother?’

She had been with me while I interrogated Jason’s human-faced beast, but now she was nowhere to be seen. Focusing on my auxiliary organs, I sensed her presence in a small clearing not far from here.

I stopped examining the “Abyssal Chromatics” trait and walked toward where she was.

‘What is she doing… ah.’

In the clearing, she was silently staring into space. Her amber eyes, brilliantly shining even in the darkness, were filled with tears.

When I approached, she wiped her eyes with her front paws.

“Are you done?”

Seeing her pretending to be calm, as if nothing was wrong, I couldn’t say anything.

‘…I made a mistake.’

When questioning Jason, I also heard why he was targeting Sky Mother.

His motive was extremely petty and simple.

He wanted to use Sky Mother as a toy. And when he got bored, turn her into a perk.

He could have chosen someone else, but he specifically chose Sky Mother for two reasons.

‘He wanted a Volf sex slave, and…’

He found it especially satisfying to toy with another player.

Sky Mother lost her loved ones and family because of Jason’s worthless desires.

‘I shouldn’t have brought her along.’

I thought hearing the cause might ease her mind a little, but it turned out to be a situation where not knowing would have been better.

I silently went to her side and lay down. Then I leaned against her slightly.

It wasn’t for any special reason. Since she hasn’t yet gained the power of Wendigo, it’s not easy for her to endure the cold.

Normally she would have given me an awkward look, but now she was so mentally exhausted that she didn’t seem to notice.

So we stayed there, our bodies pressed together, maintaining silence.

I wish I could offer some comfort, but unfortunately, I’m not good with words.

Besides, I’ve never experienced the same pain she has. Losing precious beings all at once. If 26 and Adhigh were killed by Jason, I wouldn’t be able to maintain my sanity either.

Just imagining it makes my blood boil, but she actually experienced it. Nothing I say could comfort her.

All I can do is help keep her warm.

How much time had passed?

After being quiet for a long while, she sent a thought wave.

“I met him 10 years ago. It was in my fifth year after falling into this world.”

The “him” she’s referring to can only be one person.

‘Father Land.’

In the game, he’s a fixed NPC who appears in relation to the quest for obtaining the Golden Spear of Shaman. His appearance is that of a male lion with goat horns and metallic scales on his body. He’s not very large, but has very high defense and is fast. To put it simply, he feels like a miniaturized Ice Horror.

I had already heard that she married Father Land and became the guardian deity of the Volfs. And that she decided to live with the family she gained in this world.

“Honestly, when I first came to this world, I didn’t adapt well.”

[Is that so?]

“Yes. If I hadn’t met him, I wouldn’t have survived this long in this world.”

Having found her voice, she began to talk about her experiences with her beloved.

“Once we fought and he brought a Grey Centipede as a peace offering… do you know how shocking that was? You know those things that look like human heads?”

[Yeah. They were often used for trolling in the community.]

“Exactly. It would cool even a thousand years of love.”

Memories of fighting and quarreling.

“When young Volfs tried to put flowers on him, he looked so awkward. I never knew a lion could make such an expression.”

[I’m curious about that.]

Memories of enjoying happy times together.

She pulled out every memory that came to mind, exactly as she remembered it. Because of this, her story had no order and was difficult to follow contextually.

But I quietly listened to her story. I knew she was doing this to mourn the deceased.

“Haha, he was really such a fun guy. And at the end, what? He said we’d be together forever, huh, that bastard…”

After chattering non-stop, she suddenly couldn’t continue. She just kept repeating “bad guy” while sobbing.

At that pitiful sight, my small arm near my chest moved without me realizing.

My fingertips touched soft, fluffy fur. I gently stroked her snow-white head.

Sky Mother, overwhelmed with emotion, didn’t seem to notice that I was stroking her head.

‘Though we’re not that kind of relationship…’

Perhaps it’s because we’ve crossed the line between life and death together so many times. It felt awkward to pull my hand away now, so I continued stroking.

And so she poured out all the tears she had been holding back for so long. By the time the tears on her front paws had frozen cold, she was able to calm down.

“Phew.”

Having barely composed herself, she pulled her head away slightly, seemingly embarrassed. I also naturally withdrew my hand in response to her reaction.

“I didn’t think I’d cry like this at my age.”

[How old are you?]

“…Do you really have to ask that in this situation?”

[I don’t know what to say.]

“I have a favor to ask, if that’s okay?”

[What is it?]

“Jason’s human-faced beast, I want to smash it.”

I thought it was a joke to hide her awkwardness, but looking at her eyes, she was serious. Looking at her front paws, I could see that her vicious claws had emerged, fully prepared.

[You can’t.]

“Please, just once. Hmm? Just one really hard hit, can I?”

[I’ll consider it when your health is fully recovered.]

Actually, even if she destroys Jason’s face, I can regenerate it anytime. It’s a part of my body after all. If it helps relieve some of her resentment, it would be beneficial.

Sky Mother was silent for a moment, then looked straight into my eyes.

“Thank you.”

To her short but sincere words.

I responded by nodding. The smooth amber eyes still had traces of sadness, but they were much better than before.

‘That’s a relief.’

“By the way, your appearance has changed a lot?”

Perhaps embarrassed to maintain eye contact, she changed the subject.

“Is it because of the new trait?”

I had been examining the description of Abyssal Chromatics and then immediately went to find Sky Mother. So I hadn’t yet examined the changes to my body.

[It’s probably because several traits disappeared.]

“Really? It seems like something has changed a lot though.”

Sky Mother tilted her head and examined my body.

The webbed feet between my fingers, the fins hidden in my tail, and various other traits had left my body due to the Trait Enhancement System.

However, as she said, there was indeed a subtle change that was difficult to explain by just that. As I began to examine my body, I could quickly identify which part had changed.

‘Monster Tentacles?’

The monster tentacles that flowed from the back of my carapace to my neck like thin hair or a sparse mane had changed slightly. The tentacles had become longer and thicker than before, and their number had increased, making them much more abundant.

Now the entire neck and jaw joint areas were within the range of the monster tentacles.

‘Is it because Abyssal Chromatics has effects related to psychic abilities?’

It’s not just that the amount of tentacle clusters has increased.

The monster tentacles on my body now emitted a dangerous light that mixed green and purple. Actually, calling it “light” is generous; it was closer to a bizarre feeling like foam or mold had formed on them.

“It must be because of the new perk you got.”

[I think so.]

“I shouldn’t be the one to say this, but those tentacles, they feel unpleasant somehow. I don’t know what trait it is, but it seems like you should use it carefully.”

Whether she noticed through the animal instinct unique to Volfs or through a ranker’s intuition, Sky Mother immediately pointed out the danger of Abyssal Chromatics as soon as she saw the changed tentacles.

‘I’ll check in the morning.’

I was planning to go out to find food in the morning anyway.

Abyssal Chromatics, the spoils obtained from Jason.

It seems I’ll need to spend tomorrow figuring out this unknown power.