Ch.371Two Battlefields (4)

“I won!”

“Grrrrrr!”

No. 26 glowed triumphantly atop the Magmasaur’s corpse. The “Right Head” beside it howled with joy as if joining the celebration.

“Grrrrrr”

The “Left Head,” whose spine had been broken after being kicked by the enemy’s foreleg, also participated in the ceremony.

It had been a severe injury that could have severed its waist, but now it had recovered enough to raise itself. It had healed its wounds using the internal organ trait “Superior Homeostasis.”

‘Fighting while separated isn’t bad at all.’

When I use “Hydra Division,” I can separate both my heads and have them fight alongside me for 60 minutes. Since they inherit my habits and combat style, they move effectively without needing specific commands.

‘And they can use some traits too.’

Each head with its new body can use my physical, special defense, internal organ, and environmental adaptation traits. The duplicates can also grow stronger as I develop. Thanks to acquiring Superior Homeostasis, their survivability has significantly increased.

‘It would be nice if they could share all abilities, but that’s probably asking too much.’

I watched them enjoying their victory.

Though they split while I was in Hunter’s Aspect state, the enhancement effects weren’t applied to them. They appeared as AMorph adults with only one head. It would have been nice if Hunter’s Aspect had applied for better synergy, but that’s unfortunate.

‘Well, they’re plenty strong enough as is.’

The Magmasaur is notorious among Apex creatures for its exceptional defense and physical specs. In the game, hunting one would have taken days.

Just then, the fallen Magmasaur’s corpse twitched.

It doesn’t have resurrection abilities. Something long protruded from where the neck lay on the ground, from the part where the head had been severed.

“If you’re done, could you pull me out?”

The being emerging from the corpse was Isabelle. Covered in dark red blood, she wiped her face with an arm near her head.

[Zzzzzz (Good job)]

“I’m playing the role that Blood River would have in the game.”

As she said, one strategy for defeating Magmasaurs involves using Blood River. Somehow getting Blood River inside the enemy to continuously drain its life force. Apart from taking a long time, this method is most effective.

[Zzzzzz zzzzzz zzzzzz zzz (More efficient than Blood River, which is good)]

“I’d appreciate if you didn’t treat me like an actual machine just because my body’s like this.”

After briefly grumbling, Isabelle sucked the blood from her fingers. It was certainly beyond human behavior, but I chose not to point that out.

‘Well, this part is done.’

Now it’s time to check on Salman.

After the antimatter bomb exploded, Sky Mother and PS-111 would have headed in that direction. If he survived the explosion, they’d be fighting right now.

‘I think it’s safe to send these guys now.’

The two duplicates were enjoying the victory with No. 26. Now they were salivating over the spoils.

The reason I hadn’t used Hydra Division before was simple. I was concerned about triggering the enemy’s surveillance network.

The duplicates can’t use traits like “Dark Veil” that nullify enemy detection. I deliberately avoided using my trump card while the enemy base remained intact.

‘But not anymore.’

Salman’s base has been destroyed, and Adhigh Orr went to take care of the communication satellite. With all means of external communication blocked, there’s no need to move cautiously anymore.

‘I’ll send those two first.’

While I eat the carcass here, I’ll send them to check on Sky Mother’s group.

‘You know where Salman’s base is, right? Go help.’

The two adult AMorphs turned their gaze toward me, reading my intention.

“Grrrrrr”

“Grrr…”

Seemingly disappointed about missing the meal, they kept licking their lips. Of course, being under my control, they wouldn’t refuse my orders.

The Right Head handed me the Magmasaur’s severed head. Then, together with the Left Head, they spread their wings wide and soared upward, soon disappearing into the black clouds.

“Where are the babies going without eating?”

[Zzzzzz zzzz zzz zzzzzz zzzzzz zzzzzzzz (They have something to do. They’ll eat later)]

“Later?”

[Zzzzzzzz zzz zzzzzz (That means you can eat first)]

[Yes.]

Not true at all, but anyway.

‘Well then…’

In the game, taste wasn’t a consideration when devouring enemies. VR devices couldn’t simulate taste, after all.

But this place is different. With each new prey, I always look forward to discovering new flavors.

I gathered the two halves of the Magmasaur’s head and took a bite.

The first sensation was hardness. It felt like putting an unshelled walnut directly in my mouth. The creature’s skull was so hard that my teeth couldn’t penetrate it.

‘I’ll have to eat it like I did with the Ice Horror.’

Giving up on chewing the skull, I decided to start with the lower jaw.

Avoiding the thick jawbone, I chewed the flesh of the tongue and inner mouth. The tough skin tore, and moderately cooled blood flowed out with the flesh.

‘Hmm.’

The outer skin was hard, and the inner skin was tough. I expected the flesh to be equally tough, but it wasn’t.

‘Interesting texture.’

The flesh near the skin had a chewy texture, while deeper parts were soft and greasy. The warm blood added to the experience, creating a remarkably interesting flavor.

How to explain it? It’s like scooping up a spoonful of rich meat stew with both broth and a piece of meat. The sweet juices released with each bite, the deep flavor from the blood—I like it all.

And the lava fragments attached to the skin. Each time I chew them, an herb-like aroma spreads, which is another delicacy.

‘I like it.’

It’s been a while since I’ve had prey with such layered flavors. I felt something similar when eating the “Pale Mask” before.

‘This doesn’t disappoint either.’

After devouring the lower jaw down to the bone, I started on the remaining parts. I crushed the thin bones and scraped out the brain and flesh inside.

That’s when No. 26 approached me. Judging by its body color, it seemed curious about the taste of our recent catch.

“Big baby, is it tasty?”

[Zzzzz (Try it)]

Hearing my wavelength, it transformed its tentacles into something resembling a shovel. Then it inserted the modified tentacles into the wound Isabelle had dug and scooped out some flesh.

“Wow! Delicious! Delicious!”

After tasting the meat, it floated up and spun around once.

[Zzzzzz zzzz (You like it?)]

“Yes! It’s delicious!”

[Zzzzzzzz (That’s good)]

“Let’s eat together with little baby and middle baby and friend and babies!”

[Zzz (Sure)]

The Magmasaur is about 300m in size. Even excluding inedible parts like bones, it’s an enormous amount of food. Just eating one foreleg would more than replenish the energy spent on Hydra Division. If everyone ate together, we could feast for at least two days.

“Little friend, you eat too.”

“I’ve already eaten plenty, so I’m good.”

“You need to eat more to grow big!”

“You want me to get bigger here?”

“Yes, so you can punish bad humans!”

“I can’t argue with that.”

While No. 26 and Isabelle chatted, I finished the remaining lower jaw.

I ate the upper part using the same method as the lower jaw. I avoided the thick bones and crushed the thin ones to scrape out the brain and flesh inside.

After cleaning out every last drop of brain fluid, a text box appeared before me.

“Predation Effect Activated! Successfully acquired ‘Destroyer Carapace’ gene essence.”

“Stole the biological trait ‘Destroyer Carapace’ from ‘Magmasaur’.”

“Apply ‘Destroyer Carapace’?”

‘Great!’

I was worried about failing to acquire a trait like last time, but fortunately it worked. And it’s exactly the trait I was aiming for.

‘Destroyer Carapace, huh.’

Among the Magmasaur’s traits, there are two that would benefit an AMorph.

One is the physical trait Destroyer Carapace, and the other is a unique trait that enables Ion Lightning emission. Both are unobtainable from other creatures.

I targeted the Magmasaur primarily to create a unique trait through the transcendence system. Since unique traits can’t be used as fusion materials, I was hoping for Destroyer Carapace instead.

‘Now to apply it…’

Just as I was about to apply the trait, I felt a strange sensation in the auxiliary organ under my jaw.

‘What’s this?’

This tingling feeling seemed familiar.

‘I’m sure recently… ah.’

I remember now.

It’s similar to what I felt when I first used Hydra Division and linked senses with my duplicates. Back then, my auxiliary organ tingled like this when I wanted to control the separated Left Head.

‘But I’m not trying to do that now, so what’s happening?’

Perhaps they want to communicate something? I focused my mind on the signal captured by my auxiliary organ.

My consciousness left my body, similar to linking with the nest. Is it because of the distance? It used to connect immediately, but now it’s taking quite some time.

‘I should remember this.’

After about several dozen seconds, I felt a strange floating sensation throughout my body. The coolness sweeping over my carapace, volcanic ash and embers floating in the air. I had connected with the senses of the two heads flying above the clouds.

‘Why did they call me?’

Thinking they might have encountered enemy ships that escaped the explosion, I checked the surroundings, but there was nothing special. Sensing nothing above, I focused my attention below.

‘Huh?’

Now I understand why they called me.

On the ground, various creatures—Vulcarox, Lava Raptor, Stoner, and others—were rushing in one direction. It was a bizarre situation where predators and prey were running together.

‘Could it be?’

The movement of those beasts was clearly abnormal, as if they had lost their reason.

There’s only one being on this planet capable of making wildlife behave like that.

The Returnist faction’s equipment manager.

‘I wondered how he knew I was here.’

I suspected it when I saw the antimatter bomb being moved, but now it’s certain. All those animals below are under his control. He must have spread them around to prevent intruders.

Moreover, the direction this odd assortment is heading matches the flight path of my duplicates.

This means Salman is calling them toward himself.

‘No time to waste.’

If the opponent is calling for reinforcements, Sky Mother and PS-111 will be at a disadvantage. I instructed the two heads to keep flying, then broke the link.

‘Before I leave…’

The text box has been waiting for my answer.

After selecting confirm, the Apex’s gene essence began to permeate my entire body.

Mutations occurred in various parts—carapace, outer skin, internal organs—but all with the same goal.

To become a better being.