Ch.358Burning Star (2)

The researchers and pilot answered my questions diligently.

As expected, they were subordinates of the Volf Ranker Salman on this planet. They said they were traveling around investigating the suddenly active volcanic activity under the Ranker’s orders. They’re probably looking for Magmasaurs that only dwell deep within volcanoes.

‘Magmasaurs do affect volcanic activity.’

I can roughly guess why he’s having his subordinates search for Magmasaurs.

[Zzzzz zzzzz zzzzzzzz(What was Salman’s perk again?)]

“‘Beast God’s Noose.’ The ability to control wild animals.”

Isabelle, who had been hiding and came out, answered my question.

Isabelle has the power to read information from those she has seen with her own eyes. So she knows well what perks, skills, and equipment the Rankers we’ve met so far possess. The Returnee faction’s Volf Ranker Salman received a perk related to taming.

‘In the game, there were many requests for Volf to have training-related skills or benefits.’

Quite a few people wanted the fantasy of a wolf humanoid with a jetpack on its back roaming the battlefield alongside a rhinoceros monster covered in exoskeleton reinforcements.

Unfortunately, it was impossible in the game. Unlike real pets, NPCs couldn’t form emotional bonds.

“That’s a dream ability.”

Volf player Sky Mother unconsciously revealed her feelings.

[Zzzzz zzzz zzzz zzzzzzzz zzzzz zzzzz zzzzz zzzz zzzz(Can only dominate animals defeated in battle, not playable creatures. Right?)]

“Yes.”

He can’t control monsters that can be played as characters, like AMorph or Outspacer. And Salman can only dominate animals he has defeated in battle.

“And when I saw him before, it seemed like he had to physically touch them after victory to dominate them.”

Additionally, after achieving victory, his body needs to be in contact for the perk to activate.

That was all Isabelle knew. She hadn’t been able to read more detailed aspects because she hadn’t spent much time facing Salman.

‘Well, I can find out the rest myself.’

It’s unclear what creatures can be dominated, but it seems impossible to control top-tier apex creatures like Voltex One. If he could, he would have captured Voltex One with help from other members, especially the 4th ranked, but he hasn’t.

‘But it’s strange that he’s looking for Magmasaurs.’

Excluding special abilities, if comparing pure combat power, they’re one level below a “complete Ring of Agony.” They’re weaker than Voltex One, but definitely not easy opponents.

In the game, Magmasaurs, like Sea Demons, were treated as semi-raid bosses. Even Rankers rarely hunt them alone.

‘Even using the Volf avatar technique Divine Descent would be difficult in a one-on-one fight.’

Based on information gathered so far, Salman isn’t that strong.

Then there’s only one answer.

‘He plans to challenge it with help from animals he’s dominated.’

Just like how I fought Gallergorn or Voltex One with help from the kids.

‘Then the key is how strong the animals he controls are.’

Or perhaps he controls a large number of animals.

Either way, he must be at a level where he can at least fight a Magmasaur.

‘I guess that’s all I can know for now.’

I looked down at the humans trembling in their reinforced suits.

These guys are useful since they’re searching for Magmasaurs. Using them, I can locate the apex before Salman does.

I was about to inject parasites into the enemies when something occurred to me and I stopped.

“You mentioned Dreadsong’s territory earlier, right?”

“Huh? Y-yes, that’s right.”

“Where is it?”

“Well, that…”

The researcher was flustered by my question. He thought I wouldn’t understand if he gave coordinates.

I pulled the parasites out from my combat arm and wiggled my finger. PS-111, who was behind me, approached.

[Zzzzz zzzz zzzzz zzzzzzzz zzzz zzzzz zzzzzzz(Go into the airship and check where Dreadsong is)]

“I’ll handle it.”

[Zzzzz zzzzzzz(And these too)]

I handed PS-111 three parasites as well.

The three humans trembled more intensely when they saw the squirming parasites. They probably knew where those worms were headed.

Of course, that doesn’t mean I’ll spare them.

“Are you going to catch Dreadsong?”

[Zz zzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzz(Yes. We need it)]

I need Dreadsong’s genetic essence, and Sky Mother needs its corpse.

Among the equipment Volf can use, there are items that can be made from Voltex One’s flesh and Dreadsong’s flesh. I plan to gather all the equipment materials this time.

Ten minutes later, PS-111 came out of the airship after confirming the coordinates.

“I’ll guide you to those coordinates.”

[Zzzz zzzzzzzz(Then let’s depart)]

I lowered myself to let the kids climb on, then struck the ground hard with my enhanced legs. With that momentum, I spread my wings wide and soared upward.

The sky filled with volcanic ash makes a good hiding place. Even a massive creature like me can move around without being detected.

PS-111, cradled in my small chest arms, pointed in a specific direction with his hook-like claws.

‘I should descend after going a suitable distance.’

I stretched my neck and tail straight while keeping my wing membranes taut. Thanks to the air currents, I could maintain a gliding state without flapping my wings.

“This””is””silent””good””for””ambush”

[Zz(Right)]

“I””can””too”

Adhigh, who was riding on top of the central head along with No. 26, spread his folded wings and began flying.

His flight was quiet yet agile, like a futuristic fighter jet from a sci-fi movie. The small Gallergorn who once learned combat methods and flight techniques from Sky Mother and me is now much more skilled than I am. Despite having fought together several times, I still feel strange watching that small Gallergorn’s growth.

[Zzzz zzzzz(Watch out for lightning)]

“I””fine””big one””more””danger”

We flew until we reached an area covered with black clouds. True to a volcanic planet, there were quite a few active volcanoes everywhere. Because of this, the flight took considerably longer than expected.

After about 6 hours, the clouds of volcanic ash rapidly diminished. I adjusted my wings to lower my altitude.

An endless wasteland of cooled, blackened lava stretched out before us. The atmosphere was very different from where we were six hours ago.

This place was a hell where ash and sulfuric acid rain fell instead of fire and magma.

We landed in that place where life seemed impossible to exist. When my feet touched the ground, the hardened surface of the lava caved in, and red liquid and flames leaked out from inside.

I moved forward, stepping on the slightly hardened lava like walking on mud.

Sulfuric acid rain pouring from above, land covered in lava, and massive lightning bolts constantly raging through the black clouds—if hell existed, it would probably look like this.

‘What’s amazing is that there are monsters living and moving even in a place like this.’

In the distance, I could see a bull-like monster rolling on the hardened lava. It was a Vulcarox, the monster I encountered when I first arrived on Askha44.

They repeatedly cover themselves with lava and sulfuric acid rain, then cool down to make their metallic carapace harder. They do this to survive the terrifying beasts inhabiting this hellish planet.

A red-hot metallic bull saw me and quickly ran away.

“We’re approaching Dreadsong’s territory.”

Hearing those words, I concentrated my senses on the auxiliary organs under my jaw. The heads on both sides also lowered their necks, bringing their auxiliary organs close to the lava surface.

Sky Mother, transformed into a griffon form, also keenly watched the area ahead with a spear in her beak.

Dreadsong has a very strong territorial instinct. It never spares anyone who steps into its territory, no matter how strong they are.

‘It must have already detected us by now.’

Amid the faint rumbling of thunder, we entered a space heavily filled with poisonous gas. Death fog was so thick all around that I couldn’t see even an inch ahead with my eyes.

“…I just saw something moving 150m away at 2 o’clock.”

[Zzzzz(Got it)]

Sky Mother, with her transcendent vision, warned me. I focused the senses of my auxiliary organs in the direction she mentioned.

My long, thin auxiliary organs wriggled, absorbing all the information from the surroundings. I could definitely feel movement in that direction, just as she said.

At first glance, it seemed similar to gas leaking through hardened lava—a natural phenomenon that was constantly occurring right under my feet as well.

But I shouldn’t take it at face value. Dreadsong disguises itself in the same way when preparing to ambush prey.

‘I should attack first…’

As I prepared to attack, it moved even faster. A long pole-like object shot out from the lava and flew toward us.

“!”

The high-speed projectile tried to pierce through the griffon on my back. Sky Mother belatedly tried to dodge by moving her body.

However, Dreadsong’s attack was slightly faster. If left alone, she would certainly be injured.

I hurriedly raised my wing arm to block her. The pole pierced through my wing arm, but thanks to that, I was able to delay the enemy’s attack. While I blocked it, Sky Mother quickly jumped down onto the hard black ground.

“AMorph!”

[Zzzz zzzzz(Everyone be careful)]

My right head bent its neck to bite the pole that had made a hole in my arm. The elongated pole curved sideways, avoiding my right head’s bite. What had been as hard as a spear when it pierced my arm now flexibly bent and returned to where it had come from.

The black ground split open, and the entity that had attacked me slowly extended its head out.

Its flat head, reminiscent of a toad, glowed red from being heated by magma. It opened its mouth to retrieve the long pole—its tongue—that it had shot earlier.

I pulled out the corrosive tentacles hidden on my back to attack its head. Six appendages cut through the lava, trying to tear at the monster’s hideous head, but it was already gone.

Dozens of meters away, it slightly extended its head again. Four eyeballs watched me from within the burning flames.

When I moved to attack it, it quickly disappeared from that spot.

‘It’s fast indeed.’

Dreadsong, a carnivorous toad that inhabits environments full of magma and sulfuric gas.

Just as ice planets have “Glacier Fiends,” volcanic planets have Dreadsongs—that’s how infamous they are. They’re quite similar in their cunning nature, slowly tormenting prey to death, and their strong territorial instincts.

‘But…’

I too am known as a hunter.

In the game, I hunted that cunning predator dozens of times.

This world is no different. Only the hunting time and process differ.

The fact that it will become my prey remains unchanged.