Ch.219Black Dragon (3)

Odd Grad retreated immediately after mocking me. Despite his triumphant attitude, he flew toward where his kin were approaching.

‘He’s not going to leave any risk behind.’

He’s the type who wouldn’t hesitate to look pathetic if it meant winning. His claim about overcoming all trials didn’t seem to be empty words.

I could sense more and more Gallergorn through my auxiliary organs. Most of those from the nest must have rushed out. It would be nearly impossible for me to achieve victory in this state.

‘I need to change my strategy.’

To be honest, killing Odd Grad here wouldn’t be easy. He possessed a crisis detection ability superior to my “Predator Sense.” While gathering information during battle would be ideal, our absolute disadvantage makes that difficult.

So there’s only one option left for me.

‘I need to retreat and regroup.’

However, I have no intention of fleeing helplessly as he wants.

‘I’ll destroy as many of his weapons as possible right here.’

For instance, his subordinates flying toward us now. Reducing those Gallergorn will make it much easier when I strike at Odd Grad again.

‘For that, I need allies too.’

That’s the only way to successfully reduce enemy numbers while avoiding his precognitive abilities.

Looking at Predator Sense, it collects and calculates various factors to visualize “futures with high probability of occurring.” I don’t know exactly how his crisis detection ability works. But if it’s similar, then the more variables unfavorable to him, the better for me.

Those unfavorable variables ultimately come down to my abilities and my companions.

‘I should at least call PS-111.’

It can pilot the cruiser, which will be a great help in getting us out of here.

The remaining question is how to summon it here…

‘I have just the thing.’

Just as he called his companions with “Maelstrom,” I too possess the power to cause meteorological anomalies. The power of the Lightning God that twists the atmosphere and shatters the sky.

‘PS-111 will recognize my signal.’

It stays aboard the cruiser. It must have noticed the strange sky caused by Odd Grad’s maelstrom. If I use “God’s Whip” here, it will recognize my crisis and move immediately.

I raised my head toward the direction where Odd Grad retreated, which was also where his group was coming from.

The powers spread throughout my body began to boil at my will. In response, my black carapace and scales turned golden. The golden wave that started from the pincers at the end of my tail, the tips of my fingers, and the edges of my fully spread wings flowed into my chest.

My body shone brilliantly above the sky where numerous tornadoes were swirling.

I didn’t need to think to know that Odd Grad would dodge my strike. But not the Gallergorn coming to support him.

To inflict proper damage on them, I gathered more energy than usual.

This was the first time I’d gathered this much energy since fighting the Imperial Mothership. The firepower was about one-tenth of that time.

Of course, that doesn’t mean it’s weak at all. On this planet, nothing except the Sky Whale could survive this attack.

Having completed all preparations, I opened my mouth. My upper jaw rose, and my lower jaw spread wide in two parts. My mouth opened to its limit, like a snake swallowing prey.

Then the energy gathered in my chest erupted like an exploding volcano, releasing divine power. True to its name, the Lightning God’s whip shot out from my mouth.

Like the chariot pulling the sun across the sky in ancient mythology, the golden heat ray split the atmosphere.

Following it came tornadoes, lightning, and blizzards. A tremendous boom that no natural phenomenon could imitate shook the planet’s atmosphere.

Even Adhigh Orr and Nel Germa, who had no ears, trembled at the supernatural vibration created by divine power.

Odd Grad, who had been retreating with his tail showing, sensed the danger and quickly dodged. God’s Whip passed Odd Grad and extended beyond the horizon. Golden spider webs spread across the black clouds covering the planet’s atmosphere due to the Lightning God’s power.

As expected, the Gallergorn couldn’t properly avoid the attack that came from an unseen direction. I dismissed the translucent text box that appeared before me and spread my wings wide.

[Zzzzzz zzzz zzzzzz zzzzzz (PS-111 will come. We need to hold out until then)]

“Yes! I’ll teach those bad guys who bully the babies a lesson!”

“Black kin” “Strong” “Acknowledge” “Command” “Obey”

“Great elder” “Impressive”

Nel Germa’s thought waves became more respectful, which seemed to please Adhigh. Both had looked terrified until just now, but now showed no signs of fear. They were encouraged by the presence of a being with transcendent power.

‘That’s good.’

Flying ahead of them, I checked the energy remaining in my body.

Although I had consumed much more energy than usual, I still had reserves. This was thanks to “Berserker Synapse,” which helped manage internal energy efficiently.

‘I can use it two more times.’

I could fire more if I weakened the power, but I don’t particularly want to do that.

As I flew at high speed, the enemies began to appear.

Seven large White Gallergorn, nine relatively smaller and leaner White Gallergorn, and fifteen Green Gallergorn. Behind them was the Black Gallergorn, Odd Grad.

They were communicating among themselves via thought waves. I couldn’t understand the content, but one thing was clear.

The Green Gallergorn and smaller White Gallergorn were afraid. They had just witnessed their kin turn to ashes in mid-air.

‘They would have retreated if there was no leader…’

One of the large White Gallergorn struck a nearby Green Gallergorn with its tail. Then the other Gallergorn reluctantly prepared to fight.

‘Those must be Odd Grad’s companions.’

They really did seem to have grown well under Odd Grad’s favor as mentioned. Judging by the psychic power they emitted, they possessed strength far superior to ordinary White Gallergorn, though not as much as Ham Oort.

‘I should target those seven if possible.’

Having decided on my targets, I charged toward where they were gathered. The Gallergorn, following Odd Grad’s orders, all fired psychic breaths at once.

Dozens of purple beams flew toward me.

Attacks composed of destructive psychic power. I dodged many breaths by adjusting the angle of my wings. Of course, even I couldn’t avoid all of them, so some attacks hit my scales and carapace.

“Pain Reduction activated!”

Each time, a text box appeared, and heat rays reflected by the psychic reflection armor shot out beyond the clouds.

Sharp pain rose from the hit areas, but I ignored it. To gain the effect of “Mimicry Scales,” I needed to concentrate on receiving the enemy’s attacks.

My current task is to fight while taking just enough hits to avoid fatal wounds or instant death. I need to calculate how much damage is accumulating on my body while focusing on fighting the enemies.

‘At times like this, AMorph’s unique hypersensitivity helps.’

If I had to consciously manage everything, my head would have exploded before I could properly fight.

Dodging what I could and taking hits where necessary, I advanced with Adhigh and Nel Germa behind me. They used me as a shield, sticking close behind me.

No matter how fast Adhigh or Nel Germa might be, they couldn’t dodge all the breaths fired by dozens of Gallergorn. So it was natural for them to hide behind me, who was larger and had superior defense.

When I judged that the distance had narrowed enough…

Facing Odd Grad’s group, I prepared a psychic breath. Not just any breath, but the Deep Color version.

The monster tentacles hanging from the back of my head and neck rippled ominously. Seeing this, Odd Grad quickly sent out thought waves.

“Beware!”

Hearing the command, Odd Grad’s companions quickly retreated, but the other Gallergorn were slow to react. I sprayed enhanced psychic breath toward them.

Bubbles of destruction, dripping like water droplets from the ends of the tentacles, moved to bite their targets. Though tiny compared to the Gallergorn, their power was not to be underestimated.

This was demonstrated by one ignorant Gallergorn. A Green Gallergorn that couldn’t move because it was firing heat rays at me was startled when a bubble touched its tail.

The small bubble devoured its tail like ink dropped in water and was now targeting its lower body.

Gallergorn cannot scream due to their unique oral structure. Instead, the thought waves of pain it emitted echoed in the void.

I rushed at it while the bubbles were still dissolving its body. With my lower jaw wide open, I aimed for its neck near the head. Due to the pain of having its entire lower body melted away, it couldn’t properly respond to my attack.

After firmly securing the Gallergorn’s neck with my jaw, I pulled. With the sound of bones breaking and flesh tearing, its head came off.

With that, the unpleasant thought waves like hooks scratching metal plates were cut off. The dead Gallergorn’s body fell to the ground.

Seeing this, I called No. 26.

[Zzzz (Please)]

“Yes!”

As it waved its tentacles like a conductor, the bubbles that had been eating away at the Gallergorn corpse rose into the air. Then those bubbles rushed toward the other Gallergorn.

A bubble controlled by No. 26 engulfed a slow-moving Gallergorn. I ended its pain just as I had done before.

“Everyone scatter!”

At Odd Grad’s command, the Gallergorn greatly increased the distance between each other. Due to the enemies spreading out again, the psychic breath coordination tactic with No. 26 ended there.

‘I could have killed more. What a shame.’

I swallowed the Gallergorn head I was holding. If not for this situation, I would have enjoyed the taste, but it’s regrettable.

Odd Grad, having ordered his subordinates to retreat, attacked again. A dark purple breath, stronger than anyone else’s here, tried to pierce through me. I flew upward, pushing the air with my wings to avoid it, and approached where his subordinates were.

‘This way, he can’t attack… Oh no!’

Odd Grad spat out his breath regardless of whether his subordinates might get hit. The psychic power breath brushed past below my tail. A young White Gallergorn behind me got a hole in its wing from Odd Grad’s breath.

“Great Odd Grad!” “Young kin” “Danger!”

“Black traitor” “More dangerous” “Sacrifice” “Inevitable”

One of the companions quickly sent thought waves to its leader, but to no avail. I grabbed the White Gallergorn that was falling due to its punctured wing and bit its head. After struggling to resist, it stopped moving when its head was crushed.

At that moment, an unexpected message appeared.

“Predation Effect activated!”

‘What? Let me check!’

At any other time I would have been happy about this lucky break, but we’re in the middle of battle. After quickly checking the content, I called Adhigh.

[Zuuuuu (Adhigh)]

“Confirmed”

It rushed to me like white lightning, having been fighting other Gallergorn with Nel Germa.

It needs to prey on White Gallergorn to grow. However, in the current situation, it’s difficult to eat an entire individual.

‘I’m not sure if sharing will work.’

Considering the paradox of “Theseus’s Ship,” it’s unlikely to work, but this is the only method we can try right now.

I grabbed it and the White Gallergorn corpse and jumped into a nearby tornado.

It was an intense whirlwind that would leave no trace of an unprotected person, but that didn’t apply to me, whose body was harder than a ship’s hull.

[Zzz zzz zzz zzzz (I’ll shield you, so take this)]

“Insignificant spawn!” “How dare you!”

While trying to feed the corpse to Adhigh while hiding in the tornado, Odd Grad’s angry thought waves flowed in from outside. Along with the thought waves, I felt a terrifying flow of energy approaching at tremendous speed.

Adhigh and I quickly dodged. His breath completely vaporized the Gallergorn corpse I was holding.

‘So he knows too.’

He clearly knew the secret behind Gallergorn growth. Moreover, judging by his neurotic reaction, he seemed to be extremely wary of this.

‘…He’s wary of Adhigh’s growth.’

Keeping this important information in mind, I emerged from the tornado while shielding Adhigh. As soon as we came out, a mass of purple light greeted me.

“Great elder” “Are you alright?”

[Zzzzz zzzzzzz (I’m fine. Don’t worry)]

Adhigh was concerned after seeing my carapace and scales being shattered and stripped by the enemies’ attacks.

Honestly, it would be a lie to say it doesn’t hurt, but I must endure no matter what.

‘Not much longer now.’

A positive sign is that the pain is gradually decreasing with each breath I take. It’s evidence that the immune system of the mimicry scales is activating.

Taking hits from heat rays, I closed the distance with nearby Gallergorn. They immediately stopped attacking and retreated whenever I got a little closer.

In that gap, I released Adhigh and spewed fungal masses into the air. The clumped green slime masses began to fall to the ground, then defied physical laws and started flying somewhere.

The fungal mass advancing along No. 26’s psychic power guidance. At its end was one of the large White Gallergorn companions.

It tried to dodge backward, but No. 26 was a bit faster. The flying fungus exploded like a claymore and poured onto its wings.

The white wings quickly became bloody due to the acidic fungus. It nervously fired Purple Lightning to burn away the fungi.

Not a bad response, but it missed something. That it should prioritize the enemy right in front of it over the fungus.

It belatedly noticed me flying right up to it and fired a psychic breath. Almost simultaneously, I swung the pincer at the end of my tail.

Part of the psychic breath that hit me was reflected and struck its body. The White Gallergorn was confused by what was happening. While it hesitated, the natural flail attached to my body was still flying toward its target.

Just as the pincer was about to strike its abdomen, a black dragon appeared above my head.

“Die!”

Odd Grad, who had used his companion as bait to lure me in, struck my head with his heavy foreleg.

“Pain Reduction activated!”

It was a terrifying force despite his aging. It was almost comparable to an Ice Horror’s charge, and I nearly broke my neck from the impact.

I retreated backward and used Gaze of Terror on him. There wasn’t time to apply Deep Color.

For a very brief moment, his eyes became blurry before returning to normal. He was affected, but true to his mighty psychic resistance as a Black Gallergorn, he quickly broke free.

Along with that, images appeared before my eyes. My Predator Sense activated, foreseeing my death.

“Insignificant thing” “Petty tricks” “Useless”

He fired a psychic breath instantly. Though it was a very brief moment, I had detected his attack in advance with Predator Sense and quickly bent my body to avoid it.

‘Ugh!’

“Pain Reduction activated!”

The distance was so close that I barely saved my life, but couldn’t prevent serious injury. The dark purple breath completely erased the lower part of my tail. Because of that, the pincer at the end disappeared without a trace.

“Weak thing” “This is the end”

His tentacle clusters turned dark purple. It’s too late to dodge now.

“Big baby!”

I can feel No. 26’s wavelength. No matter how amazing it is, it’s impossible to defend against a breath with such tremendous power at this close distance.

“Great elder!”

Adhigh, seeing my crisis from afar, tries to fly to help but is blocked by another Gallergorn.

Time slows down. I can feel power concentrating in his tentacles.

Just as his attack is about to be executed…

A bright light appeared on the opposite side of Odd Grad’s head.

‘The sun? No, that’s…’

Since life exists on this planet, there must be a star. But that bright light is not the sun.

Because the sun wouldn’t fly all the way to where we are.

An energy mass that feels familiar to the psychic power used by me and the Gallergorn, but with some mixed impurities.

I know what it is.

Odd Grad, whose judgment was clouded by the joy of being able to strike me down directly, belatedly realized it.

“What…?”

While he turned his head, I quickly folded my wings and dropped down. Less than a second later, a massive explosion occurred above my head.

As I fell toward the ground, a familiar aircraft appeared in my sight.

“Received signal from Sub-Controller ‘AMorph’ and arrived for support.”

“Wow! A friend has come!”

The broadcast flowing from the diamond-shaped cruiser glowing in ivory color. The owner of the mechanical, stiff tone was a being well known to both me and No. 26.

The Mutant Screamer developed by Star Union, PS-111.

It had come here, guided by the golden beam of light.