Ch.359Burning Star (3)

“Bad guy is hiding in the squishy-squishy.”

“Black ground” “Danger”

“The continuous gas emissions make it difficult to detect vibrations.”

“Be careful, sis. Dreadsong is skilled at deception.”

Everyone got off me since we didn’t know when Dreadsong might ambush us again.

No. 26 entered combat mode, enlarged his body, and floated in the air. Above him, Adhigh Orr and Isabelle flew out of the toxic sulfuric mist.

PS-111 raised its arms equipped with hook claws and blade claws, ready to slice the moment the creature appeared. The Demolisher attached to its tail was also prepared to fire at any moment.

While everyone was preparing for battle, Sky Mother approached me. She apologized after seeing the person-head-sized hole in my wing arm.

“I’m sorry.”

[Zzzzzz (It’s okay)]

Dreadsong’s basic attack is to stab opponents with its saliva-coated tongue.

Its tongue is highly compressed muscle covered with scales, making it extremely hard. That’s why even a simple tongue stab delivers terrifying destructive power. The “corpse catfish” level of highly acidic saliva is just a bonus.

No wonder it could pierce my carapace, which can withstand even faster-than-light travel.

‘Still, this isn’t a serious injury.’

Considering my size, a hole the size of a human head is nothing. It’s painful, but I can endure it.

Ignoring the wound, I scanned the surroundings.

‘It’s keeping us in check.’

Dreadsong looks like a prehistoric frog transformed into a monster. Though only its body shape resembles a frog, its building-sized body, multiple eyes, and hard rocky protection give it a distinctly monstrous feel.

‘It looks sturdy, but its physical combat skills aren’t great.’

This giant toad’s close combat ability is inferior to a White Gallergorn’s. Dreadsong’s cunning stems from this physical weakness.

‘Plus, it has a weapon more fearsome than its tongue.’

[Zzzzzzzz zzz zzzz (Can you see anything from up there?)]

“I can’t see anything.”

“The dense gas makes it difficult to confirm.”

Adhigh Orr and Isabelle, who had scouted from above, came back down. I stared at the toxic gas that was so thick I could barely see an inch in front of me.

‘It wasn’t a coincidence that it targeted Sky Mother.’

It knew who spotted it first and prioritized attacking them.

Since the ambush failed, it will do one of two things next. Either attack Sky Mother again, or…

‘Target whoever looks weakest.’

At that moment, its tongue shot out from the lava. The monster’s tongue flew as fast as a bullet just fired from a gun. At its tip was a Griffon with golden fur.

‘No, that’s a trick.’

Dreadsong doesn’t repeat the same attack. Except when it wants to deceive its enemies.

I raised my wing arm to strike the rapidly approaching tongue. But the tongue changed direction naturally, as if it had anticipated my move. Instead, it aimed for the pink gigantic jellyfish, No. 26.

No. 26 is the second largest after me, but his exterior isn’t as tough as mine. The creature must have realized this and adjusted its target.

‘How stupid.’

Sea Demons and Dreadsong have completely different habitats, so they never encounter each other.

But no player would consider them equal threats. Sea Demons are far more dangerous.

‘Moreover, No. 26 isn’t an ordinary Sea Demon.’

Just as Dreadsong’s blunt tongue was about to touch his exterior, purple tendrils grew from the pink surface. These tendrils, composed of unknown power, instantly formed geometric patterns.

Though small due to the short preparation time, it was sufficient to defend against the enemy’s attack. The tongue that collided with No. 26’s protective barrier shattered like an egg thrown against a rock.

Blood sprayed into the air as the tongue convulsed in pain. When Dreadsong hesitated due to the pain, PS-111 rushed in.

“Defending for the Main Controller.”

Its hook claws flashed. The gas in the air parted, and Dreadsong’s tongue was severed, falling to the ground.

“Gaaack!”

The monster’s painful groan could be heard from afar. Its tongue hastily disappeared into the sulfuric mist.

PS-111 aimed the Demolisher on its tail in the direction of the sound and fired immediately. What emerged from the scorpion-like tail wasn’t venom but navy-colored energy bullets.

I heard the energy bullets explode, but since there was no cry from the creature, they must have missed.

“I’ll punish the bad guy!”

Enraged, No. 26 deactivated his barrier and began using psychic power.

The psychic chains spread by the deep-sea demon penetrated the black earth spewing gas. The ground split open, and the red lava beneath erupted like a fountain of blood. He intended to completely overturn this area with psychic power.

The enemy must not have expected this either, as something large could be felt moving hurriedly underground. Adhigh Orr, watching from the air, caught the trembling ground and immediately fired a psychic breath.

Unlike regular Gallergorn, his unique spherical psychic breath hit where Dreadsong was hiding. The ground caved in, and liquid different from lava flowed out, but the creature didn’t stop.

Its presence soon disappeared. It was trying to escape and look for another ambush opportunity. Just like in the game, it’s truly annoying.

‘In the game, I either lured it with bait or went directly into the lava to catch it.’

In my case, it was the latter—entering the lava to chase it down. If you pursue it without rest for about a day in real time, it eventually tires and can’t escape.

‘Come to think of it, that was insane.’

I don’t plan to catch it that way here. Why would I do that when I have others helping me?

I looked at Dreadsong’s domain, which had transformed into an underworld-like atmosphere. The ground, overturned by No. 26, continuously spewed sulfuric gas and lava. As if it had to expel everything now or never.

‘Hmm.’

Looking at that, a good idea suddenly came to mind. I called Sky Mother first.

[Zzzzzz zzzzzzzz zzz zzzz zzzzzzzz (Those particles that control pressure, can you use them now?)]

“Of course. Why?”

[Zzz zzzzzzzz zzz zzzzzz (Can you send them underground?)]

She nodded slightly with an intrigued look at my words.

“Using pressure-controlling particles to catch it would be difficult. It would quickly notice and try to escape.”

That’s fine. I just wanted to confirm whether she could control pressure underground.

‘That’s settled.’

The next one to ask was No. 26.

When I asked, his body flickered with pink light.

“Since big baby asked, I’ll try!”

[Zz (Good)]

I raised two tentacles and gently stroked him as he took a fighting stance. Then I explained to Sky Mother and No. 26 what to do.

“…It’s not a bad method. I’m not sure if it’s possible at this scale, though.”

“I just need to press down on the squishy-squishy?”

[Zz (Yes)]

After hearing my explanation, they immediately took action.

First, Sky Mother spread her brilliant carnelian-colored wings. Jewel-like particles mixed into the foul-smelling mist. Some of these particles penetrated below the broken ground.

While she was laying the groundwork, I grabbed PS-111 with my combat arm.

[Zzzzzz zzz zzzz zzzz (Don’t put your feet on the ground)]

“Understood.”

Sky Mother continued to sprinkle particles onto the black earth.

Perhaps because it had been badly hurt, Dreadsong, which was certainly nearby, didn’t attack us.

‘It should be coming soon.’

Just as I thought that, a whistling sound suddenly came from somewhere. My auxiliary organs and the monster’s tentacles trembled. Not because they detected something, but because a very strong air current had developed around us.

“AMorph!”

The sulfuric mist was swept by the wind and gathered in one place. Seeing this, Isabelle urgently warned.

The creature was there where the air and gas concentrated. Dreadsong had its large, flat head and relatively short, stubby front legs on the ground, strongly inhaling gas. The gill-like parts behind its four eyes vibrated, creating a whistling sound.

Dreadsong had also brought out its trump card. A terrifying technique befitting its name, the song of terror.

[Zzzzzz zzzzzz zzz zzzz (Adhigh Orr, Isabelle. Escape upward)]

After warning those above, I quickly spread my wings to protect the members on the ground.

Almost simultaneously, the creature exhaled what it had inhaled. The sulfuric gas, volcanic ash, lava, and magma compressed inside its body were released at once, becoming as fearsome as an orbital weapon. The destructive power was greater than several Lightning Gods attacking simultaneously. Even an adult AMorph would suffer significant damage if hit.

The song of conflagration sung by Dreadsong engulfed me. My carapace, which had remained intact even when penetrating volcanic ash, cracked. The membrane on my wing arms was punctured and torn in places.

“Pain reduction activated!”

The burning pain throughout my body was something I’d experienced before, but it was still unfamiliar. The fortunate thing was that the monster toad’s song wasn’t very long.

After launching its powerful flame attack on me, Dreadsong went back underground.

[Zzzzzzzz (Now)]

Confirming it had hidden, I immediately sent a wave to No. 26. Protected inside my wings, he immediately spread his psychic power.

“Bad guy! I’ll punish you!”

The enraged Sea Demon deployed his psychic power at full strength. The ground, spanning hundreds of meters, no, several kilometers, instantly turned purple.

While No. 26 was spreading his psychic power, Sky Mother also took action. She exercised her ability to control pressure through the carnelian-colored particles that had penetrated underground.

The gas that had been erupting chaotically immediately stopped, and the liquefied ground rapidly solidified.

From the outside, the entire environment seemed to have stabilized, but that wasn’t the case. While the surface was firmly held by high-concentration psychic power, down below, pressure was fluctuating wildly due to the sacred Griffon’s power.

“Ughhhh!”

“AMorph! I can’t hold on much longer!”

[Zzzzzz zzzzzz (Just a little longer)]

After a few minutes, the ground shook as if there was an earthquake. My auxiliary organs faintly detected Dreadsong’s movement.

The creature couldn’t move due to the psychic power pressing from above and the particles running wild underground.

[Zzz (Done)]

As soon as I sent the wave, No. 26 immediately released his psychic power.

Then a black wall appeared before us.

It was the ground of this planet. The broken ground, which had been colliding in all directions below, was suddenly released and shot upward.

“Enemy” “Found!”

And among the flying debris was Dreadsong. Covered in blood, it was flying into the sky without any ability to respond.

Seeing this, Adhigh Orr moved to intercept it. But someone else moved even faster.

Isabelle, with her elongated body, moved in a straight line toward the target floating in the sky. After smashing through all obstacles in her path, she grabbed the enormous Dreadsong, larger than herself, with her many hands.

‘Done.’

Since Isabelle has caught it, the operation is a success.

Just as I was about to relax, Sky Mother tapped me with her foreleg.

“About those flying debris…”

[Zz (Yes?)]

“…I think they’re about to fall.”

Pieces of ground that had flown several kilometers high. They were about to start free-falling as a rain of rocks.