Ch.211Side Story: The First Great Monster War

At Megacorp it was known as PH-101, while in the Cult Empire it was called Psygil08.

This planet, designated as sacred ground by the Cult, possessed a mysterious yet dangerous natural environment with diverse ecosystems. Rare creatures roamed throughout the planet, and there were Volf native tribes that maintained their independent civilization while remaining hostile to outsiders.

If one were to define it simply, it was a “dangerous paradise.”

This planet, barely touched by outside civilizations, was under the strict protection of the Cult Empire. Occasionally pirates, smugglers with their eyes on paradise, or fanatical researchers from Megacorp would attempt to infiltrate, but successful cases were extremely rare. Most were obliterated by the imperial defense fleet before even entering the planet’s atmosphere.

However, the days of a well-preserved natural planet were now in the past.

Black flames descending from the edge of the sky, and golden lightning shot upward by a demon on the ground. The aftermath of war between transcendent beings was affecting the entire planet.

The planet’s sky was completely ruined by magnetic storms and debris from the exploded mothership fleet. Trees that once colored the surface green were burning fiercely, and countless creatures within them were burned to death.

Some creatures were lucky enough to survive, but their situation wasn’t good either. The fire spread more and more as time passed, and their habitats were shrinking in reverse.

Creatures that normally existed in predator-prey relationships were now fleeing from the fire together.

The Nightstalker, a predator with a body resembling a black panther but with spider legs, secretly licked its lips at the Wood Devil fleeing alongside it.

The slightly singed creature emitted a unique smell. That delicious scent drove the Nightstalker crazy.

It knew that avoiding the fire took priority over attacking each other right now. But that smell was so captivating it made the creature lose its reason.

“Grrrrrr.”

Dominated by overwhelming hunger, the Nightstalker drooled while running. The Wood Devil had no idea what the creature behind it was thinking.

“Grrr…uck?!”

Just as the Nightstalker was about to pounce on its prey.

Its body stopped as if fixed in midair. Confused, it tried to break free from the invisible force, but to no avail.

That invisible power crushed the Nightstalker’s bones before it could resist. The Wood Devil in front met the same fate.

The two creatures, their bones shattered in an instant, floated in the air and flew somewhere.

Passing through the burning trees, they fell in front of a pink creature.

The pink creature resembled a jellyfish but was incomparably larger. It was so big that even combining the Nightstalker and Wood Devil’s corpses wouldn’t amount to half its size.

Beneath its rounded body extended numerous fins and tentacles. Inside the fins and tentacles were small claws reminiscent of saw blades, densely packed.

This was a creature that would never normally be seen in such a forest. Its habitat wasn’t on land but deep in the blue sea.

The Sea Demon, a monster among monsters nicknamed the “demon of the deep sea.”

It wrapped its tentacles around the corpses.

“I need to bring these to the big one quickly.”

Sea Demon No. 26 began to move carrying the corpses.

The inferno that had engulfed the entire forest rushed toward it, trying to burn its soft skin.

She released psychic power whenever the flames approached. Each time, not only the flames but also trees were shattered, but she didn’t care at all.

As No. 26 moved, devastating the forest, a wide clearing appeared ahead. In this area, more like a small plain, lay the being she cherished most.

The massive monster that had burned the sky had fallen into a deep sleep after expending all its power.

In front of the monster’s elongated snout was a mountain of meat from all kinds of creatures. All prepared as food for the monster.

No. 26 approached the pile of corpses to arrange the food in an easy-to-eat manner. As she was about to place the food, something small fell from the sky.

They were small animals or insects that inhabited the forest.

“Food” “Brought”

Eventually, the being that had dropped the small prey landed in front of No. 26.

A being with a long, smooth body, small tentacle clusters instead of a mouth, and wings as large as its body length. A rare creature from a place far, far away from this planet—a Gallergorn.

Judging by its green scales, it was quite a mature specimen, but its size was very small compared to other Green Gallergorn.

The mutant female Gallergorn, Adhigh, nodded with satisfaction at the prey she had brought.

“I” “Brought” “Many”

Adhigh’s tone suggested she wanted to be praised quickly, but No. 26 didn’t want to. Because the creature’s actions had just irritated her.

“?”

“You ruined the pile I arranged to make it easier to eat.”

“Food” “Stomach” “Digestion” “Same” “Shape” “Doesn’t” “Matter”

Adhigh argued that everything is the same once it enters the mouth. But No. 26 couldn’t agree.

The sleeping big one is quite particular about meals. Unlike her who eats all prey well, the big one carefully considers which prey would be delicious and which part to eat first.

That’s why she had deliberately arranged the food for the big one to enjoy, but Adhigh had messed it up.

“Put it back properly.”

“Cannot” “Understand”

“I’m going to give the big one its favorite food first.”

Adhigh looked displeased but followed No. 26’s words without complaint. They both shared the same desire to give their beloved being the best food first.

Adhigh picked up a wild boar carcass with dozens of spines on its head and placed it on top. When she put her own catch on top, No. 26 got annoyed.

“What are you doing?!”

“Big Elder” “Likes” “This” “More”

“No! It likes this more!”

“Deny”

As No. 26 tried to move the food with her tentacles, Adhigh blocked her. She used her psychic power to push the creature aside like swatting a fly.

“Unfair!”

The other side used psychic power first. Adhigh decided to respond in kind. When No. 26 removed the boar and put something else on top, Adhigh used her super-acceleration ability to quickly restore it.

“Why are you removing it!”

“This” “Better”

As they glared at each other, a griffon carrying loads of prey on its back emerged from the burning forest.

With a head resembling a white-headed eagle, a golden mane, and a body like a lioness, this mythical beast wore a sapphire necklace around its neck.

It was Sky Mother, an ally of the monsters present. Having gathered food from the forest like No. 26 and Adhigh, she tilted her head in confusion at the strange atmosphere.

“What’s this? You’re both already here… Why is the mood like this?”

“Small Elder” “Bullying” “Me”

“The little one started it first!”

“Cannot” “Understand” “Small Elder” “Removing” “Food” “As” “Pleases”

“The big one doesn’t like that.”

“No” “Small Elder” “Doesn’t” “Know” “At All” “Doesn’t” “Know”

“Wait. Are you arguing about what to give to Morph… ahem, the big one first?”

“Yes.”

“Agree”

Sky Mother was dumbfounded by their answers.

The massive monster lying before them, Morph, sees all creatures as genetic essence. It’s a being that eats anything edible without discrimination.

“It’ll probably like anything anyway, so why don’t you just pile everything together?”

“No. This will taste bad if it gets cold.”

“Small Elder” “Wrong” “About” “Other Things” “But” “Right” “About” “This”

“The little one is mean! Mean children need to be punished!”

“Won’t” “Avoid” “Fight”

“Wait, wait, wait!”

As the atmosphere between the Sea Demon and Gallergorn grew hostile, Sky Mother hurriedly intervened.

If they fought, Adhigh would be finished. That pink slime may have a cute way of speaking, but it’s a monster that can throw house-sized boulders hundreds of meters away. If that power were used against Adhigh, there would be nothing left of her.

“Why don’t you each make separate piles?”

“Separate?”

“Yes. Then the b-big one can eat whatever it wants first when it wakes up.”

“Troublesome” “Pointless”

“You both want to give it what you brought first, right? This would be more certain, don’t you think?”

As she desperately persuaded them, No. 26 and Adhigh’s emotions quickly subsided. Their anger toward each other dissipated, but competitive spirit gradually began to rise instead.

“I’ll bring more!”

“Small Elder” “Slow” “I” “Fast”

Adhigh spread her wings wide and flew away with all her might. She flew toward the far side of the forest at a speed much faster than when she fought with Pale Mask in the sea.

“I won’t lose either!”

No. 26 also diligently moved her fins and entered the flame-filled forest.

With the two small monsters gone, Sky Mother sighed. Her amber eyes looked reproachfully at the sleeping giant beast.

‘Morph, you bastard, you’re going to be in big trouble later.’

Last time he asked how to lay eggs, and now they’re competing over who can prepare food better. Both would be fine if they were ordinary creatures, but each occupies the apex of their respective ecosystems.

If they ever fought, it would be a bloodbath.

‘I was going to bring more food…’

Sky Mother piled up the food she had carried on her back in one corner. Then she flopped down on the parched ground. In her mouth was one small prey she had just brought.

‘I guess there’s no need for that now.’

As she chewed the squid, waiting, Adhigh appeared first. Flying at tremendous speed, she didn’t even land but dropped her prey from the sky.

Like a bomber carpet-bombing with food, she turned around and flew away again.

‘I should organize this or they might fight.’

Sky Mother piled up the food Adhigh had left in front of AMorph.

After Adhigh had come and gone about 10 times, No. 26 appeared. Seeing her emerge from the forest, Sky Mother dropped the food in her mouth.

‘What the hell?! What is that?’

Five fully grown Plant Lizards and three or four equally large monster corpses were floating in the air. Below them, No. 26 was moving the monster corpses with psychic power.

“Where should I put these?”

“…Over there.”

She dumped the corpses where Sky Mother pointed. Then she bounced away on her fins, disappearing beyond the forest.

As soon as she vanished, Adhigh appeared. For the first time, she landed on the ground instead of flying by.

Her beautiful amethyst-like eyes were fixed exactly on the pile of food No. 26 had stacked.

“That” “Small Elder’s” “Food?”

“Yes.”

Adhigh shook her head in annoyance and flew away again.

‘…Damn, did I do something wrong?’

She felt their competition was becoming ominous. And her prediction was correct.

Their competition continued until Adhigh could no longer fly. Coincidentally, No. 26 had also shrunk significantly from excessive energy consumption.

In front of AMorph was a mountain of countless creature corpses. Some had died in the fire, but most were unfortunate creatures sacrificed to the competition between the two small monsters.

‘…Terrifying creatures.’

It would have been good if it ended there, but now something else became an issue.

“The food I brought is bigger!”

“I” “Brought” “More” “I” “Win”

“No! Bigger food is better!”

“Deny” “Small Elder” “Doesn’t” “Know” “Doesn’t” “Know” “Doesn’t” “Know” “At All” “Doesn’t” “Know!”

Adhigh, too exhausted to even move a wing, was irritating No. 26 with just her mouth. No. 26 seemed to want to hit her with her tentacles but was too drained to do more than fume.

And the sparks flew to a third party.

“Middle one, who did better?”

“Huh?”

“Good Friend” “Correct Answer” “Please”

When the two monsters looked at her, Sky Mother was flustered.

‘Why are you asking me?’

She could take sides immediately without issue, but she feared the consequences. One was a near-raid boss level creature, and the other had the potential to become a terrifying being.

Earning the enmity of either was extremely burdensome for her, who had just joined Morph’s group.

“Um, well, couldn’t we just say you both won? That’s what this one would want…”

“No. The big one will prefer bigger food. It won’t like many small, tasteless prey.”

“Small Elder” “All” “Wrong” “Big Elder” “Food” “Number” “Important” “Quantity” “Not Important”

Judging by the atmosphere, it was impossible to gloss over this.

As she was struggling with how to respond.

“Grrrrrr”

The voice of a savior was heard.

When she turned her head, the sleeping monster had opened its eyes.

The monster, who had slept for almost two days straight, raised its body and stretched its multiple arms.

[Zu-zu zu-zu-zu zu-zu-zu zu-zu-zu (Something smells delicious)]

“No. 26 and Adhigh brought food! Try it quickly.”

[Zu zu-zu (Hm? Really?)]

Sky Mother quickly passed the decision to him. Having just woken up, he scratched under his chin with his arm while looking down at the piled food.

Then, seemingly having made up his mind, he extended his arm.

“Huh?”

AMorph used the membrane under his combat arm to sweep up the food piles and poured them into his mouth. It happened so quickly that it was impossible to tell whose food he ate first.

“Big Elder” “Ate All”

“So who won?”

AMorph, having eaten everything except a few corpses, extended his arms and embraced No. 26 and Adhigh.

[Zu-zu zu-zu zu-zu-zu-zu zu-zu-zu (Thank you all for taking care of me)]

“Big one, are you not hurting anymore?”

“Big Elder” “Okay?”

[Zu-zu zu-zu-zu zu-zu-zu-zu-zu zu-zu-zu zu-zu zu-zu-zu zu-zu-zu-zu (Yes. I would have been in big trouble without you. It’s all thanks to you)]

Was it because they were exhausted, or because they were wrapped in their beloved one’s carapace?

No. 26 and Adhigh wanted to ask whose food tasted better, but they couldn’t. An overwhelming drowsiness overtook them. They fell asleep before they could ask.

[Zu-zu zu-zu-zu-zu-zu-zu (They must have been very tired)]

“…You seem to have a lot of sins.”

[Zu-zu (Hm?)]

“It’s nothing.”

Sky Mother let out a small sigh.

Amidst the burning sky and earth, AMorph, oblivious to everything, patted the sleeping No. 26 and Adhigh.