Ch.232Assault (1)

After the battle ended, Odd Grad, or rather, those who had become Adhigh’s pack, returned to their former nest. Nel Germa was appointed to command them.

Ham Oort, whose injuries were not yet fully healed, returned to the cave nest I had created along with the Sky Mother. After completing his treatment there, he plans to gather the Blue Gallergorn and join Odd Grad’s nest.

The rest of us are now searching the forest near the Twin Peaks. We’re collecting the Gallergorn that fell during the battle.

While looking for corpses, PS-111 approached me.

PS-111 remained here with me instead of going with Nel Germa because of his interest in biological genes and energy supply.

In his hand with hook-like claws, he was holding a Snow Banshee.

“After analyzing the battle, I’ve concluded that body size has a significant correlation with combat effectiveness. May I use this creature as an energy source to readjust my body?”

“Keek! Keegigik!”

It seemed the Snow Banshee had been caught by PS-111 while coveting a Gallergorn corpse.

It hadn’t been long since we came down to the forest when the Hunter’s Mark effect ended. If I were to eat the Snow Banshee now, the probability of obtaining genetic essence would be low.

‘I suppose it wouldn’t be a problem to hand it over.’

[Zzzzzz zzzz zzzzz(Just leave the Gallergorn corpses)]

“Understood.”

“Keek?!”

As soon as I gave my permission, he swung his arm with sickle-shaped claws. An invisible blade of wind shot out and sliced the Snow Banshee.

Warm blood and entrails spilled onto the cold ground. The appetizing smell spread throughout the dry forest. He picked up the fragmented corpse and ate it.

There’s nothing around here that could threaten him. Leaving him to his meal, I moved deeper into the forest.

“Isn’t Big Baby hungry?”

[Zz zzzz zzzzzz(I’m saving my appetite for something else)]

Some distance from the Twin Peaks, I spotted broken trees. From the way the widely spread branches were snapped, it was easy to tell this was the impact site of something that had fallen from the sky.

A black mass was visible where the broken branches pointed.

It was the corpse of Odd Grad, his neck severed, looking like a meteorite that had flown in from outside the planet.

Not just his neck was gone. The impact with the ground had completely crumpled his wings, and his waist was bent in a grotesque manner.

This was the miserable end of the black dragon who had overestimated his abilities and obsessed over his authority as leader.

“Is that the bad flappy boss?”

[Zzzz(Yes)]

Black Gallergorn meat is an excellent source of nutrition. Even just the forelegs and head provided a massive amount of energy.

‘Plus, it tastes incredibly good.’

The meat of apex creatures consistently offered deep flavors that gave me pleasure. And the Black Gallergorn was the most powerful apex I had eaten. Its taste was overwhelmingly excellent.

‘I may not be desperate for energy anymore, but…’

It’s true that thanks to Berserker Synapse and Dragon Heart, my energy supply is more abundant than before. But that doesn’t mean I need to pass up an opportunity to enjoy a delicious meal.

“Are you going to eat the boss?”

[Zz(Yes)]

“Enjoy your meal.”

I was about to tear into the corpse when I stopped. Something had suddenly occurred to me.

No. 26 sitting on my head.

Though it’s currently reduced to only 50cm in size, it originally measures almost 10m. This is because it grew substantially after absorbing the psychic power of an adult Sea Demon in the past.

‘So would eating a Black Gallergorn have a similar effect?’

In the game, both Gallergorn and Sea Demons are renowned as high-level psychic creatures. Despite their differences in appearance, habitat, and habits, they both use extremely powerful psychic abilities.

Gallergorn grow in nests where psychic power flows abundantly, accumulating large amounts of energy in their bodies. Sea Demons, on the other hand, maintain and pass on accumulated psychic power by transferring their power to other Sea Demons before they die.

‘The methods differ, but they’re the same in that they both contain massive amounts of psychic power.’

In fact, No. 26 has previously fed psychic power to Blue Gallergorn. This time, I’ll do the opposite—use the Gallergorn corpse to empower it.

I thrust my combat arms into the Black Gallergorn’s belly.

I could feel warm entrails and flesh at my fingertips. I grabbed and pulled out its vital organs, including the heart.

A delicious aroma wafted from the organs that were still warm. I handed the freshly extracted food to No. 26 on my head.

[Zzzz zzzz zzzzzzzz(Want to try this?)]

“That’s your prey, Big Baby.”

[Zzzzzzzz zzzz zzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzz zzzzzz(I’m too full to eat it all. It’s delicious, try some)]

No. 26 extended its tentacles and wrapped them around the food in my hand. Then it stretched its body like thinly rolled dough and sucked in the food along with its tentacles.

Soon, its body glowed with colorful lights.

[Zzzz zzzzz(How is it? Delicious, right?)]

“It’s delicious!”

[Zzzz zzzzzzzz zzzzz(There’s plenty more, eat up)]

As soon as I gave permission, it came down from my head and began tearing into Odd Grad’s corpse.

It had always had a good appetite, but it seemed particularly fond of the Black Gallergorn’s organs.

Not long after No. 26 started eating, I sensed a presence from above.

It was Adhigh, a Gallergorn with four red wings. It entered through the gap in the broken branches and landed beside me.

“Corpse” “Not far” “Soon” “Arrive”

[Zzzzz zzzz zzzzzzzz zzzzz(I’ll head over after finishing this)]

“Confirmed”

[Zzzzzzzz zzzz zzzz(It’s delicious, you should eat too)]

“Great One” “Prey”

[Zzzz zzzzzzzz zzzzz zzzzzzzz(We hunted it together. Spoils should be shared)]

“Is that so?”

When I nodded, it joined the feast. It climbed onto the corpse, inserted its tentacles between the torn skin, and sucked the blood.

“Completely” “Good”

After trembling its neck in apparent delight, it diligently drank the blood. True to Gallergorn nature—sparing their own kind but merciless to enemies—Adhigh had no qualms about eating Odd Grad’s corpse.

‘Not that I, as an AMorph, have any right to judge.’

Fearing nothing would be left if I waited any longer, I prepared to join them for the meal.

As I was wondering where to start eating, I noticed a half-eaten foreleg. That cleanly cut surface was my handiwork.

The ring that had been on that foreleg is now firmly gripped by my small hand near my chest.

I tried forcing the ring on after coming down to the ground, but there was no special effect. The emotion-concealing ability didn’t activate at all.

Whether it requires meeting other conditions to use or is exclusive to Odd Grad remains unknown. This ring in my possession is currently nothing more than a jeweled ring with no effect.

‘Tsk.’

For equipment that didn’t exist in the game, this was a disappointingly anticlimactic outcome. I considered throwing it away, but there might be something I don’t know about it. I decided to keep holding it with my small arm for now.

‘Forget the ring. Let’s eat.’

Taking my eyes off the foreleg, I grabbed a hind leg and tore it off. Then I took a big bite.

‘This is good.’

How can I describe the taste of Black Gallergorn? It’s a complex flavor that’s difficult to define with a single word.

‘The flavor is like a mix of truffle oil and pepper…’

I once tasted food with artificial truffle oil, and this was very similar. It was like the pungent spicy aroma from the blood neutralizing the greasy smell from the meat.

Also, unlike other apex creatures, the Black Gallergorn’s meat had a unique aspect—its skin.

The skin crunched like crispy roasted pork rind. Not only was the texture interesting, but the taste was even more excellent. A deep, concentrated flavor seeped out.

The meat itself was quite tough, but certainly not enough to strain an AMorph’s jaw. Rather, it was just right to chew for a while before swallowing, allowing me to enjoy the rich taste of the meat.

‘Once again, the formula holds true—the stronger the enemy, the more delicious they are.’

Having devoured the hind leg in no time, I reached for its tail.

“Are you in the middle of a meal?”

As I was about to tear off the tail, a voice came from behind.

Turning around, I saw PS-111. While we were eating, he must have collected corpses, as there was a white Gallergorn corpse placed beside him.

[Zzzzz zzzzzzz(You’ve collected the corpses)]

“Yes.”

He stared at me with his characteristically expressionless face.

Or more precisely, he was staring at my hand firmly gripping the Black Gallergorn’s tail.

Screamers are controlled by mechanical devices connected to their brains. Therefore, it’s no exaggeration to say that all their bodily activities are under mechanical control. This applies to Mutant Screamers as well.

But at this moment, I could tell what he wanted.

I applied force to tear off the tail, then held it out to him.

“That’s all right.”

[Zzzz zzzz(Take it when offered)]

“Thank you.”

True to his mechanical nature, he didn’t refuse twice.

After our brief feast, I went to the location Adhigh had indicated and recovered the corpses.

Since I couldn’t carry all of them, I processed the rest on the spot except for four. These four would be used for Ham Oort’s treatment and as food for the Gallergorn.

Since I was large, I would carry three, and No. 26, returning to its original form, would carry one. With our hunting spoils secured, we set off for the cave nest.

‘It seems different somehow.’

No. 26’s appearance after inflating its body hadn’t changed much from before. The jellyfish-like fins and tentacles protruding from various parts of its body were all familiar.

‘Has it grown bigger?’

No. 26 can freely adjust its body size. That’s why it’s not easy to notice changes.

Checking the amount of energy it contains would be most accurate, but No. 26 is skilled at concealing its psychic power. Until we enter combat, I won’t know how much stronger it has become.

‘Well, it might not have grown at all, so let’s not worry too much.’

There are still a few things left to try. For instance, the dragon’s nest where psychic power continuously flows.

While returning to the nest with these thoughts, my auxiliary organs detected a certain smell.

‘Huh?’

The smell was similar to fresh blood but slightly different. It was closer to the smell of iron. Though I couldn’t identify it, the smell was somehow familiar.

I stopped in my tracks.

“Big Baby, what’s wrong?”

“Is something the matter?”

[Zzzz(Quiet)]

I lowered my head close to the ground. I thought it might be the smell of metal buried in the ground, but that didn’t seem right.

While checking the smell, my gaze fell on PS-111. The biomechanical body unique to Screamers, a mix of metal and organic material, emitted the smell of metal and chemicals for life support.

That was quite similar to this smell detected by my auxiliary organs.

[Zzzzz zzzzzzz zzzzzzzzz zzzzzzz(Is this area also within the Screamers’ activity range?)]

“It wasn’t until my main controller was changed.”

I’ve been through this forest leading to the Twin Peaks several times. If there had been Screamers, I would have encountered them already.

[Zzzzzzzz zzzzz zz zzzzzzz(I smell Screamers. Check it out)]

“Understood.”

Sensing equipment resembling snail antennae emerged from PS-111’s eyes. He lowered his body close to the ground and used the hose-shaped sensing equipment to trace the remnants on the floor.

Before long, he discovered footprints on the ground.

Three-claw marks reminiscent of bird feet.

Traces of Screamers.