Ch.364The Devil of the Volcano (3)

“Did you get what you wanted this time?”

[Zzz (Of course)]

Unlike with Dreadsong, I was lucky this time. I immediately got the trait I wanted.

‘I was worried I’d draw a trap card, but thankfully not.’

Getting traits like the Metallic Gremlin’s “Miniaturization” or the Skywhale’s “Energy Absorption” would actually be disadvantageous. Pyromancer also has traits that can be negative in a similar way.

Among the Pyromancer’s traits, there’s one called “Hunger.” Those who possess this trait gain a greatly increased maximum limit for storing energy. It’s an essential trait for creatures that consume a lot of energy.

‘If only it didn’t have drawbacks.’

When you possess the Hunger trait, the energy stored in your body continuously decreases. And when energy falls below a certain threshold, you lose control.

True to its name, you go berserk with hunger. That’s why the Pyromancer didn’t flee to the end – because of that hunger.

Fortunately, the trait I obtained isn’t Hunger.

「Superior Homeostasis: Consumes large amounts of energy to extremely enhance natural healing abilities. After using this trait, the effects of energy generation traits are weakened for a certain period.」

The Pyromancer’s almost magical recovery ability, “Superior Homeostasis,” is currently being applied to my body.

‘Though its performance is somewhat inferior to the original.’

Some traits that AMorph can acquire are less effective than the original or have altered effects. Superior Homeostasis is also a trait that’s applied in a weakened form compared to the original.

Having this trait doesn’t mean I can restore my body in seconds like a Pyromancer. If it were identical to the original, AMorph would become the strongest species.

But there’s no reason to be disappointed. Superior Homeostasis is a very useful auxiliary trait for AMorph.

This trait, classified as an internal organ type, enhances the body’s healing power to an incredible level as described. Unlike other recovery traits, it must be manually activated, but once triggered, it demonstrates regenerative power comparable to the original.

For instance, even if only my head remained, activating this trait would allow me to restore my entire body within 10 minutes. It might sound slow, but considering my body size, it’s an amazingly fast speed.

‘With this trait, I can freely use the Revenant Organ and Tyrantroid.’

The Revenant Organ that only activates in near-death situations, and the Tyrantroid that amplifies its effect as injuries worsen. Both are good traits, but they have limitations in that their activation depends on how severe the injuries are.

However, with Superior Homeostasis, these drawbacks are resolved.

Of course, there’s no such thing as a perfect trait. The greater the performance, the greater the cost.

When Superior Homeostasis is used, traits that pump energy like “Dragon’s Heart” are sealed. The sealing time varies by trait, but it can last from a couple of hours to more than a day. During this time, the only way to replenish energy is through primitive methods – that is, by eating and digesting food.

“That ended earlier than expected. What’s next?”

[Zzz (Well)]

I had deliberately made generous plans in case I couldn’t get the trait I wanted. I expected to hunt at least three Pyromancers.

But since I got it earlier than expected, there’s no reason to hunt more Pyromancers.

Or more precisely, there’s no need to hunt them “right now.”

‘I should hunt them later when Sky Mother is here.’

When the others were receiving one or two traits from me, she also told me what traits she wanted.

The traits she wanted to receive were mainly two: the Revenant Organ and Superior Homeostasis.

Her perk, “Hunter God’s Transformation Shell,” allows her to transform into various phantom beasts. In exchange, there’s a 30-day cooldown each time she transforms into a beast other than a Griffon.

Despite being a powerful perk, this cooldown significantly reduces tactical diversity. That’s why she’s always wanted to somehow overcome this drawback.

‘The combination of Revenant Organ and Superior Homeostasis would be good when using her perk.’

However, I can only give her the latter, Superior Homeostasis, here. That’s because I can’t obtain the Revenant Organ here.

‘There is something that could substitute it though.’

Thanks to consuming Siheyon Yujin’s crystal equipment on Beryan02, I gained an ability similar to the Revenant Organ.

The ability gained through the “Plunderer’s Amorphous Polyhedron” effect is called “Void Dice.” Using this ability resets the cooldown of all traits. Thanks to this, the Revenant Organ became usable again.

‘There seem to be other effects too, but I haven’t confirmed them yet.’

A 66-day cooldown was applied after I used it immediately upon obtaining it on Beryan02. Due to the remaining cooldown, I haven’t been able to experiment with what effects it has.

‘…I can’t pass it up in this situation.’

Thinking about it again, I still can’t do it. I know it would help her. However, I can’t give her the Revenant Organ now when I can’t use the Void Dice.

‘Because we’re facing major enemies like the Magmasaur and Volf Ranker.’

I’ll hold off on the Revenant Organ and give her Superior Homeostasis later. After all dangers have passed, and when I can acquire the same trait again.

[Zzzzzz zzzz zzzzzz zzzzzz zzzzzzz (Let’s check places where Pyromancers might inhabit)]

“Okay. What about Elemental Hozer?”

[Zzzzzz zzzzzz zzz zzzzzz zzzzzzz (We should search volcanoes that researchers aren’t investigating)]

Hearing my words, Isabelle pointed behind me instead of answering.

“How about Adhigh and I search around?”

[Zzzzz (Just the two of you?)]

He extended his finger to point at Adhigh and No. 26.

「I find this one delicious.」

「Disagree」「This」「More」「Delicious」

「That’s tasty too, but this is more delicious!」

「Edible parts」「Few」「Not great」

The two were consuming creatures slaughtered by the Pyromancer.

“Both of us are small, so we won’t be easily detected by radar.”

[Zzzzz (That’s true)]

Especially in Adhigh’s case, he can fly so fast that radars have difficulty properly detecting him. Isabelle is slower but knows the ecology of Elemental Hozers well.

It seemed like a pretty good combination, but I shook my head.

‘It’s not good to split up any further.’

Unlike the group infiltrating Salman’s base, Adhigh and Isabelle can’t use parasites as a means of communication. If something happens to them or to me, it would be very problematic if we can’t contact each other.

[Zzzzzzz z zzzz zzzz (We could be picked off one by one, so no)]

“What about maintaining a proper distance?”

[Zzzzzz zzzz zzzzz zzzz (If we’re going to do that, there’s no point in splitting up)]

It’s better to stay together at least until Sky Mother and PS-111 return. Isabelle understood my intention and nodded.

[Zz zzzzzz zzzz zzzzzz (If you’re done eating, shall we move?)]

「Where to next?」

「New food」「Are we looking for it?」

[Zz (Yes)]

I jumped into the sky carrying them.

Looking down, I could see small Stoners returning to eat the corpses. The debris of corpses scattered around the lake will be cleaned up by them.

The lava lake looked exactly the same as when I first discovered it.

–

From behind a large rock, Sky Mother and PS-111 were observing Salman’s base.

Several buildings were floating above the lava thanks to gravity control devices. Each building was connected by long corridors and was protected by shields.

The base, with its buildings intertwined like a molecular structure model, was much larger than expected. It even had an aerial port large enough to accommodate a large battleship. It was essentially a space fortress on the surface.

‘A facility of this scale in the frontier.’

Such facilities are usually seen only on wealthy planets like Beryan02. No matter how powerful a Ranker is, building such a massive floating base on an unknown planet is never an easy task.

‘I don’t know why, but…’

What’s important now isn’t why this base was built. We need to think about how to infiltrate it.

Her amber eyes focused on a particular building.

Some of the buildings floating above the lava had chimney-like equipment installed underneath.

This equipment, close to the burning surface, performs the task of sucking in heat and gas. The accumulated heat and gas are converted into energy by other equipment inside the building.

‘Either there or we have to enter through the port.’

The port has too many eyes, making it impossible to sneak in.

The only passage that can be infiltrated without shield interference and away from others’ eyes is just one.

「What do you think? Is it possible?」

“Success probability confirmed at 62%. The passage size is estimated to be just enough for me and ‘middle kid’ to pass through. Precise flying skills are required for breakthrough.”

It was a typical Screamer answer, with half its brain made of machinery.

The success rate wasn’t high, but she was confident.

‘I’ve penetrated much narrower passages than that. That’s definitely possible.’

Sky Mother’s flying skills were at a considerable level, though PS-111 might not know it.

In the game, her fighter piloting skills were among the top five. AMorph didn’t assign Adhigh’s flight training to her for nothing.

She’s just more accustomed to ground combat because she hasn’t had wings for long, but she can demonstrate her past skills whenever necessary.

「I’ll aim for the timing when gas erupts from below. Using the updraft created by the gas, we can infiltrate without being detected by the shield.」

“Would that be possible even for you, when it’s not easy even for ‘little kid’?”

「I taught him, you know? Well, that was when I was a Green Gallergorn.」

“I understand. Calculating the gas eruption cycle, the next eruption will occur in 6 minutes.”

「Good.」

Nodding, she mentally reviewed the plan once more.

While reviewing various risk factors related to the mission, PS-111 spoke up.

“I have a question about sub-controller ‘AMorph’.”

「Hmm? What is it?」

“Is AMorph male or female?”

For a moment, she thought the Screamer was joking. When she remained silent, PS-111 asked again.

“Is AMorph male or female?”

「…Do you really need to ask that in such a tense situation?」

“Middle kid is identified as a subject capable of nimbly accepting AMorph’s thoughts. I judged it would be conducive to information gathering while carrying out operations with such an entity.”

She looked at the other with disbelief, but PS-111 didn’t back down. With its expressionless metal skin, it seemed determined to keep asking until it got an answer.

She sighed and answered.

「As far as I know, male. He said so himself.」

“Is there any biological evidence to confirm this?”

「…」

Sky Mother knows what PS-111 means by biological evidence. She also knows how to confirm it. She unwillingly learned about it when she saw photos of another AMorph’s “that part” posted on a community in the past real world.

‘But why does everyone ask me?!’

Previously, No. 26 and Adhigh asked her, and now even the Screamer is asking the same question. As if they think she knows everything.

「Don’t ask me, ask him directly.」

“I asked before but was rejected.”

「He certainly doesn’t have resistance to that kind of…wait, why am I even talking about this?」

Just a few minutes ago, the atmosphere wasn’t like this. They’re in a situation where they need to infiltrate a base where an enemy Ranker is hiding, yet they’re having this useless conversation. As someone who wasn’t familiar with these kinds of topics even in reality, she felt quite strange.

‘I need to change the subject somehow…’

At that moment, as if hearing her wish, a change occurred at the base. Small and large ships rose from the previously quiet port facility.

「Hide!」

She and PS-111 quickly lowered their bodies. The destroyers and patrol ships that took off hurriedly flew in one direction in formation.

‘Why are they suddenly doing this?’

After being quiet all this time, they now looked quite urgent. It seemed as if something had happened and they were rushing to respond.

‘Could it be?’

“All the ships that took off are models with fast speed as their advantage.”

「…Are they going to look for AMorph?」

“Judging by their armament status, they appear to be intending to conduct reconnaissance operations.”

Whatever it is, enemies showing unexpected movements is not a good sign.

‘I need to let AMorph know.’

“30 seconds until gas eruption.”

To do that, they need to hurry and infiltrate the base.

Watching a column of gas and fire rise from the lava lake, she initiated the operation.