Ch.397Ranker (2)

The Sky Mother knows the detailed activation conditions of the ‘Revenant Organ.’ This is because I explained how to utilize it when fighting Jason in Adhigh’s former homeland.

Later, when I became able to transfer up to two traits to others thanks to the ‘Double Helix Monolith,’ she asked for the Revenant Organ.

‘And Superior Homeostasis too.’

The Revenant Organ is a trait that automatically activates only when one is on the brink of death. To overcome this limitation, a powerful recovery trait is needed. ‘Superior Homeostasis’ was a trait that paired well with the Revenant Organ.

So after finishing the magmasaur hunt on the volcanic planet, I transferred the traits to her. Since I acquired them again afterward, both she and I currently possess these traits.

Therefore, the Sky Mother has all the conditions needed to utilize the Revenant Organ.

[I’ll send Adhigh and PS-111 to the Gigacracker after transferring the trait]

The reason for sending PS-111 along is because of the active APNC.

The microscopic mechanical device that absorbs psychic power cannot be removed through recovery abilities. While the Sky Mother maintains Adhigh’s life with the Thunderbird’s abilities, PS-111 needs to handle the nanomachines.

“…Will it really be okay?”

The Sky Mother projected thought waves filled with complex emotions.

Her concern isn’t unfounded. After all, the Sky Mother has never used the Revenant Organ, either in the game or in this world. All she knows is information from the community and my explanations.

This is also why I’m sending her, a powerful force, to a safe place. If she makes a mistake or something goes wrong, both she and Adhigh could be in danger.

‘But.’

I believe she will succeed.

[You can do it]

“……”

To be precise, I believe in the power of her feelings for Adhigh.

Having lost precious things before, I know better than anyone how terrible and frightening that is. So she absolutely won’t fail.

After receiving my short, strong wavelength, she closed her eyes. Her anxiously beating heart gradually stabilized.

“I’m counting on you.”

The Sky Mother, having composed herself, extended her head toward my snout. As I transformed into the emblem of hunting, the auxiliary organ surrounded by sharp bone blades touched the Griffon’s beak.

When I activate ‘Double Helix Monolith,’ the power that manipulates genetic essence, a reaction comes from within my body. Blood, flesh, bone, carapace—all structures constituting my physical form split and merge. Though there’s no visible change on the outside, highly complex chemical reactions occur within.

Shortly after, the result flowed from the tips of the bone blades covering the auxiliary organ. It was genetic essence, similar to the black mucus generated during growth. A droplet of liquid, small as a human finger joint, transferred to the Sky Mother.

The liquid containing the information of the ‘Revenant Organ’ was instantly absorbed into her beak. And quickly spread throughout her body.

The trait was successfully transferred. Once the genetic essence rearrangement process is complete, she too will be able to use the Revenant Organ.

[Now I’ll send Adhigh]

Still undergoing internal calibration, she nodded instead of responding.

As I was about to use stellar coordinates on Adhigh, I suddenly felt a strong impact on my head.

A torpedo fired by the Star Union battleship hit my head carapace and exploded. With that, the enemy’s offensive resumed.

“Watch out!”

Isabelle warned urgently.

Among the incoming torpedoes, I detect an object moving particularly fast. Akira is hiding among the projectiles, targeting me.

He aims the muzzle of his rifle-like weapon at me.

He must know the APNC is useless against me. He must have loaded different ammunition.

Having already sliced through my carapace once, he knows my defense level. He must have prepared ammunition powerful enough to cause me significant damage.

‘Whatever it is, getting hit would be bad.’

Just as I was about to dodge the mysterious attack, No. 26, who had been frozen, stepped forward.

“Hey! Stop bothering the little baby when he’s hurt!”

Before I could stop him, an enormous amount of psychic power was released from his body. Like the Cult fleet firing all their psychic cannons at once, purple tendrils of various sizes extended in all directions.

The incoming torpedoes and carrier-based aircraft exploded upon contact with the psychic net he deployed. In an instant, everything was filled with red flames and metal fragments.

‘That’s terrifying.’

It’s such destructive psychic power usage that it doesn’t seem like No. 26 at all. It reminded me of when the Sea Demon would violently exert power against players in the game.

The only entity that remained intact in the inferno created by the enraged No. 26 was Akira. Having failed his ambush because the torpedoes he was using for cover suddenly exploded, he aimed at me again.

At that moment, Isabelle drew the Voltex One pistol. They both pulled the trigger almost simultaneously, but Isabelle was marginally faster.

The just-fired bullet simply vanished. The invisible, undetectable power of Voltex One swallowed not only the bullet but also the barrel of the gun Akira was holding.

Thanks to No. 26 and Isabelle’s coordination, I’ll never know what bullet he was trying to shoot.

Having lost his trump card in an instant, he angrily threw away the broken weapon. Then he flew in to attack me directly.

He probably intends to slash me with his hook claws like before, but the situation is different now. My split bodies created by ‘Hydra Division’—’Left Head’ and ‘Right Head’—blocked his path.

“Grrrr!”

“Gruk!”

As my avatars began fighting Akira, the battleships in the rear flew in to support him. Our metallic gremlins also moved again to confront the metal structures created by humans and cyborgs.

‘Now’s my chance.’

The enemies are distracted in the chaotic battle. Thanks to that, I’ve gained time to move Adhigh.

I carefully removed Adhigh from my small arms. As I brought my auxiliary organ closer to use stellar coordinates, he moved slightly.

“Great One”

The thought wave Adhigh emitted was much weaker than usual. Even this close, I could barely detect it with the monster’s tentacles.

“You said” “I grew” “bigger” “sorry”

[No]

I gently stroked his head with my finger.

[You are my pride]

This isn’t just empty words, but my true feelings.

At first, it was merely a contractual relationship. I only thought of him as a guide to the dragon’s nest, a repository of precious genetic essence.

But now that has completely changed.

He has become one of my most precious beings.

‘My past self would never have understood this feeling.’

[And the leader of the pack doesn’t apologize carelessly]

Adhigh slightly wags his tail. He must be expressing joy after feeling my sincerity.

With that, his thought waves completely ceased. He lost consciousness due to his injuries.

Any further delay would be dangerous. I aimed my auxiliary organ at him and concentrated.

Soon after, Adhigh disappeared with a blue light.

‘I’ve sent him safely.’

Seeing this, the Sky Mother also prepared for superluminal navigation. Blue particles enveloped her body, just as they had with Adhigh.

“AMorph.”

Just before departing, she called out to me. Right now, I couldn’t respond due to the stellar coordinates penalty.

Knowing this fact, she threw out a brief statement.

“Don’t die.”

With that, she vanished from this place. Only blue particle grains, evidence of superluminal navigation, remained in the black space where she had been.

Shortly after, the penalty ended and I could move again. Only PS-111 remained.

He took out the power-saving mode MPS-05 from the storage space attached to the lower part of his body.

“I’ll hand, over the MPS-5. You can, contact us, if necessary.”

[Yes]

“After the treatment, is complete, we’ll come, to the Gigacracker, to support you.”

I took the MPS-05 and stored it in my mouth, then sent PS-111 to the Gigacracker.

However, right after he disappeared, enemy battleships began to swarm toward me. The unique energy wave generated during superluminal navigation had caught the enemies’ attention.

The enemies gradually surround me, unable to move, trying to capture me. Among them, the Star Union warships were accompanied by numerous APDs (Anti Psychic Drones). This was to prevent psychic power from detonating torpedoes or ships.

As the distance narrowed somewhat, the battleships’ main guns all aimed at me. Seeing this, No. 26’s body trembled.

‘Even he can’t overcome that many APDs.’

Even the psychic breath I fire with all my might is easily blocked by them. The best option here is to endure the enemy’s attacks until I can move my body.

That’s what I thought, but something beyond my expectations occurred.

No. 26’s body twisted grotesquely, and then thousands, tens of thousands of tentacles erupted. Tentacles of various sizes extended like waves, piercing the APDs scattered everywhere.

‘What is this?’

It seems like he’s applying a combination of saw tentacles, mimicry tentacles, and even the ability to transform his body, but I’m not certain. The Sea Demon in the game never demonstrated such abilities.

Having instantly deleted about a quarter of the active APDs, he spread psychic power wildly through the gaps. Along with this, eyes made of psychic power formed on his translucent pink skin.

“Bad metal chunks that bully the big baby! I really hate you!”

The nightmare of the ocean planet and the demon of the sea.

In the black abyss called space, the demon roars.