Ch.223Reorganization (4)

Adhigh’s growth issue was resolved, but there were still other matters to address.

Originally, I had included Red Gallergorn in the plan to attack Odd Grad, but that card was no longer available.

‘So I need to modify the plan to fight without Red Gallergorn.’

Regardless of his choice, it’s certainly disappointing.

Red Gallergorn is a top predator more fearsome than Sea Demon or Black Gallergorn, both in lore and in the actual game. There are very few creatures with power greater than the red dragons.

However, I can’t expect that level of power from the current Adhigh. It’s uncertain how much of Red Gallergorn’s power he can use, but he’ll naturally be weaker than the original.

‘I’ll look into that later.’

Right now, there are other things I need to check first. I looked at the Sky Mother.

She had entered the nest directly to rescue Ham Oort. There was much I needed to ask her—how she rescued him, the size and condition of the enemy forces, and so on.

“I knew you had used the divine whip when I saw the sky.”

Knowing what I wanted to ask, she slowly began explaining what had happened in the dragon’s nest.

“I considered retreating to support you, but since I can’t fly, I thought rushing in blindly wouldn’t help. I figured it would be better to raid the nest instead.”

[Indeed]

“Thanks to all the White Gallergorn leaving the nest, I thought it was worth trying. Actually, entering the nest wasn’t difficult.”

The black fur of a Wendigo harbors microscopic bacteria. These bacteria don’t cause significant harm to other creatures, but they temporarily impair cognitive abilities.

Wendigos can deliberately spread these bacteria from their bodies. Those who inhale or become infected experience brief disorientation, loss of direction, and sensory confusion.

‘A perfect ability for infiltration or ambush.’

She must know as much about Wendigos as I do, which is why she transformed into one.

Incidentally, this ability can only be used when transformed into a Wendigo. According to the lore, the bacteria are generated in the black fur.

[How many Gallergorn were in the nest?]

“I tried to avoid them as much as possible, so I’m not sure exactly, but there seemed to be over 50 Green Gallergorn alone.”

[That’s a lot]

Considering the Gallergorn she didn’t see and the hatchlings, Odd Grad’s group must have close to 100 members.

As far as I know, a single Gallergorn group rarely exceeds 60 members. Beyond that number, they face difficulties in food supply.

‘Come to think of it, when I first fought the Mutant Screamer here.’

The forest caught fire when it self-destructed, and many creatures burned to death. The Gallergorn that flew in were busy gathering food rather than anything else.

Gallergorn are predators that enjoy hunting living creatures. They do eat dead creatures, but it’s a lower priority. Yet those Gallergorn were focused on moving the burned corpses.

[They must be starving]

“I didn’t go to where the eggs are kept, but I think so. They have too many mouths to feed.”

[You managed to rescue Ham Oort despite their numbers]

“It was close, but the situation was favorable.”

[What do you mean?]

“Ham Oort was also looking for an opportunity. When I met him and briefly explained, he understood immediately. Thanks to his cooperation, we were able to minimize fighting.”

I was slightly surprised by her words. As expected of Adhigh’s mother. She showed remarkable judgment and courage.

Thanks to the rescue target’s active cooperation, she said she didn’t face much difficulty escaping from the nest. It was thanks to the Wendigo’s powerful special ability, “Ice Wraith.”

Creatures affected by Ice Wraith lose their sanity due to abnormal hunger. She made the Green Gallergorn patrolling the nest go berserk, diverting the enemy’s attention as she moved.

Moreover, the cliff, which was expected to be the biggest obstacle to escape, was easily passed thanks to Ham Oort’s suggestion.

“I was originally planning to climb up and escape, but he told me there was water flowing beneath the cliff. So we escaped that way.”

As they jumped from the cliff, Ham Oort reduced their falling speed with psychic power. As a result, they fell onto the water without major injuries.

“It would have been dangerous if we’d been even a little late. Odd Grad returned while we were escaping.”

It was an incredible coincidence. If she had returned to the nest or if rescuing Ham Oort had taken just a little longer, they both would have been finished.

After escaping through the waterway, she returned to the nest.

“When I got back, everyone was hiding in a pit they had dug in front of the nest.”

‘That must be the pit I saw earlier.’

They almost attacked the Sky Mother transformed as a Wendigo, but thanks to Ham Oort, no fight broke out.

“After that, I went out hunting for food and scouting occasionally. Just in case you might come with Gallergorn chasing you.”

[Well done]

Like a true ranker, she showed appropriate situational judgment and action. When I praised her, the amber flames in her eye sockets gently curved.

“Morph-boy’s compliments have become common lately.”

[Should I take it back?]

“I’m joking. By the way, I heard from Ham Oort that Odd Grad has a strange power?”

[Yes. He can predict crises]

“Crisis prediction?”

At my words, the Sky Mother scratched her black skull with her hand.

“You mean precognition? It wasn’t that great in the game.”

[It’s different here. He can actually read the future]

Understanding the meaning of my words, she straightened her posture. She must understand how serious it is that a Black Gallergorn, which ranks high in the ecosystem, can read the future.

“…This won’t be easy. How far can he read?”

[Life-threatening crises occurring within less than 5 minutes]

I don’t know exactly how far ahead he can see. I only know for certain that he responds to life-threatening crises.

‘Come to think of it, Ham Oort said he fought him too.’

[You said you heard from Ham Oort? I should ask him when he wakes up]

“Hm? I’m not sure Ham Oort knows about that.”

[Huh?]

“The ability he told me about was different. It wasn’t precognition.”

[He has another ability?]

I couldn’t help but be surprised at those words.

“Unlike precognition, it’s not a combat-related ability. Actually, it’s debatable whether it’s even an ability at all.”

[What kind of ability is it?]

“According to Ham Oort, he possesses a mineral with the power to deceive his own kind.”

[Mineral?]

Hearing that, something suddenly came to mind.

‘Ore? Could it be?’

He was wearing a large ring with a refined gem on his foreleg.

Gallergorn have intelligence but no concept of adorning themselves with equipment or clothes. That’s why I thought his ring was unusual.

[Now that I think about it, he was wearing a ring with a gem]

“A gem ring. That must be what he meant. He said the creature never removes the mineral with power from his body.”

If Ham Oort’s words are true, it explains why Odd Grad, despite having an abnormal personality for a Gallergorn, can command numerous members of his kind. Setting aside where the ring came from.

‘Whatever it is, the fact that the ring is central to his dominance is important information.’

What if he loses the ring during battle?

His subordinates would be severely shaken. They’re already starving, and their ruler is controlling his kind through suspicious means.

If used well, this could deal a fatal blow to Odd Grad.

I looked down at Adhigh, who was rubbing his head against the back of my hand.

Seeing him gave me ideas about how to fight Odd Grad.

‘Good.’

I had gathered enough information from the Sky Mother. I organized the information and thought about what needed to be done next.

Three things remained.

Waiting for Ham Oort to wake up, and…

‘Checking Adhigh’s abilities and activating my mimicry scales.’

The two are related issues. I can handle them at once.

[Let’s go back to the nest. We have a lot to do]

“Okay.”

“Are” “you” “done” “talking?”

[Yes]

Hearing my words, he gently removed his head from my hand. The Red Gallergorn traits had definitely mixed in, making him look different somehow.

Of course, his body had grown, and the color of his horns and wings had changed, but the difference felt more fundamental.

‘His thought waves have changed.’

Before, they were primitive emotions sent in bursts, but now his thought waves were much more refined. Similar to how No. 26 or Odd Grad conveyed their intentions.

[Your communication has become more skillful]

“Is” “the” “change” “bad?”

[No. Growth is a good thing]

His thought waves were simple before, which often made them difficult to understand. This was much more convenient for me.

‘Though it feels a bit bittersweet.’

With that thought, I picked up the remaining Gallergorn carcass.

When we returned to the nest with Adhigh, the Sky Mother, and Nel Germa, we saw the Green Gallergorn who had gone hunting.

They were clinging tightly to No. 26’s body, just like the Blue Gallergorn. It was because of the planet’s cold, which was difficult even for Gallergorn to endure.

‘Should I implant symbiotic spores in them?’

At that moment, they noticed us and detached themselves from No. 26. They approached us, lowered their wings and upper bodies close to the ground, and bowed their heads.

‘What’s this?’

The horns of those bowing were all pointing toward a single being.

Adhigh, who was riding on my back.

‘Hmm.’

This was the first time other Gallergorn had reacted this way to Adhigh. He may not have become a true Red Gallergorn, but from the Gallergorn’s perspective, perhaps that distinction doesn’t matter.

After their unified greeting, the Gallergorn raised their bodies and took out the carcasses they had stored in the pit, placing them in front of me. The scene resembled servants bringing meals to their master.

‘Or perhaps more like subjects presenting gifts to their queen.’

Adhigh tilted his head, seemingly confused about why they were acting this way.

“I’m” “full” “don’t” “need” “food” “you” “eat”

“Gratitude”

Only after he refused did the Green Gallergorn begin eating the food they had caught. While they were eating, I attached symbiotic spores to their bodies.

Then I gave some of the White Gallergorn remains that Adhigh had left to No. 26.

[Come eat with us. I have something to do]

“Something to do?”

[I need both you and Adhigh]

“Got it! Just trust the big baby!”

He always says such nice things without fail.

I raised my wing arm with gratitude and stroked him. He glowed brightly, seemingly pleased.

After sharing the Gallergorn carcass with No. 26, I took them both out of the nest again.

‘This should be far enough.’

Stopping at a suitable open space, I explained to Adhigh and No. 26 what we would do here.

[First, we’ll test the new power Adhigh has gained]

We need to check how much of Red Gallergorn’s power he can draw out.

‘Red Gallergorn uses a new system of power called Dragon Power.’

Our schedule will vary slightly depending on how much Dragon Power he can use.

To give my mimicry scales psychic resistance, I need to receive pure psychic power attacks. Developing resistance to Dragon Power wouldn’t help at all right now.

The resistance effect provided by mimicry scales only applies to one type of energy at a time. Since it takes days for the immunity effect to wear off, I need to be careful not to waste time.

“Should” “I” “use” “it” “now?”

[Yes. As much as you can]

When I nodded, Adhigh’s eyes glowed.

Then, red currents began to emanate from his body.