Chapter 230:

Chapter 230:

[Predation effect activated! Successfully acquired the gene essence of 'Dragon's Heart (Unique).]

[Stolen the 'Dragon's Heart (Unique)' from the biological traits of the 'Black Gallagon’.]

[Would you like to apply 'Dragon's Heart (Unique)'?]

As soon as I swallowed Odd Grad's head, the long-awaited text box appeared.

The 'Dragon's Heart,' a symbol of the Black Gallagon.

This is the first unique trait acquired through direct predation without using the Transcendence System. If you want to evolve into a specialization in psychic abilities, it's the best option.

Though I should be happy to have gained such a powerful trait, I felt a slight disappointment.

‘I thought something different would come out since it's a special one.’

Perhaps a precognition ability or the Starflame it used before dying. Not that the Dragon's Heart is useless, but Odd Grad was a being of a different calibre compared to ordinary Black Gallagons. So I had a little hope.

‘Well, it's a bit disappointing, but it can't be helped.’

I selected ‘Confirm’. Then several translucent text boxes appeared, and my body began to change.

Imitation is another aspect of evolution.

There is no being better suited to this concept than The Amorph.

My organs and bodily systems began actively accepting the gene essence of the Black Gallagon, transforming in response.

The blood vessels connected to the heart on the right side expanded, split, and branched into new vessels. These new vessels converged on the opposite side of the heart, towards the left.

As organs like the lungs and intestines shifted, a new heart began to grow in the empty space left behind. Though smaller in size than the heart on the right, the strength of this Gallagon heart was no less.

‘So this is how it feels.’

Could it be because I'm in the 'Symbol of Hunt' state that my senses are heightened? I could vividly feel the changes happening inside my body.

With two hearts in an instant, I took a deep breath. Even when I secured the Berserker Synapse before, I felt a strong vitality, but this time, it was on a different level.

Despite expending a considerable amount of energy in the fight with Odd Grad, the exhaustion completely disappeared. Instead, I felt a powerful energy, as if I were holding the sun within me.

With the Dragon's Heart, it's as if I'm always in the Symbol of Hunt state, at least concerning psychic abilities. The heart constantly pumps psychic power, allowing me to use techniques like Psychic Breath without restriction.

And that's not all. Even in situations that consume large amounts of energy, like superluminal navigation, I can substitute with psychic power.

"It'll go well with the Horizon of Nightmares."

The worry of energy consumption while towing the ship will decrease, after all.

"Come to think of it, this makes four unique traits now, doesn't it?"

I have three unique traits created through the Transcendence System. Adding the Dragon's Heart, which specializes in psychic abilities, brings the total to four.

‘Only six more until I meet the evolution conditions.’

I already met the Apex condition while fighting Odd Grad's group. Now, only the requirements of acquiring ten unique traits and holding six types remain.

‘I still have a long way to go.’

To gather ten unique traits, I'll need to continue hunting Black Gallagon-class Apexes or use the Transcendence System.

‘It won't be easy to gain them through hunting.’

I might find more Black Gallagons, but there's no sign of any new Gallagon groups on this planet. And it seems there are no other Apex creatures with unique-level traits on this planet besides the Gallagons.

‘There's a chance the Arcane Orca might come, but waiting for that would be too inefficient."

The Arcane Orca, a higher species of Skywhale, moves between planets, consuming massive amounts of energy. They might come to the black mountain where the Skywhales roam, but it's impossible to predict when they'll arrive.

At least the Crystalwing has a nest, but the Orca does not. Rather than waiting indefinitely, it might be better to consider other options.

‘Perhaps it's time to leave.’

Thanks to the Gallagons, I met the Apex condition, and I killed the Black Gallagon Odd Grad. I've probably gotten everything I can from this planet.

‘Though I don't plan to leave immediately.’

After capturing the Hellside Hornet, I gained new information about the materials needed for a new unique trait. To fuse that unique trait, I'll need the traits of both the Hellside Hornet and the Glacier Fiend.

The Great Elder had always said she was the most precious to him. He promised never to abandon her, and that promise was kept.

Moreover, right before leaving, hadn't he said so? He never lies to her. No matter how many times she thought back, he had never once lied to her.

She pondered.

Perhaps the Great Elder had a plan all along? He always came up with plans she had never seen or thought of before. Maybe, even now, he had a grand plan that only he knew about.

And this thought was not hers alone.

「I found it! The Great Elder left this behind!」

The Little Elder, who had been with the Great Elder the longest, pulled something out of a pit. It was a long, metallic object, unlike anything their kind used, with an energy that was different from theirs. The Great Elder had often lent this item to his unsightly friend.

When she saw it, she realized.

This was the trace the Great Elder had left behind.

The Great Elder hadn't abandoned them. He left, trusting them with his plan.

After that, everyone began searching for more traces left by the Great Elder. They revisited the places they had gone with him.

The vast icy plains, the black mountain where they had fought the sky serpent, even the cave midway up the mountain where she had hunted with him.

All of it was in vain, but she and her kin didn't give up. They were certain the Great Elder was waiting for them to come.

After searching for a long time, the last place left was one she had never visited. The Little Elder said it was where they went to catch ‘the shiny, flying thing’.

And that place was the answer.

At that place, the Great Elder and the mighty Odd Grad were engaged in a battle that the sky and stars would remember.

As she flew, carrying the Little Elder, she vowed to scold the Great Elder when she met him.

He had no idea how shocked she was when the one she revered and loved the most said he was leaving. If she stabbed him a few times with her horn, maybe he wouldn't do such a thing again.

Seeing the injured Great Elder fighting Odd Grad nearly softened her anger, but she forced herself to stay resolute.

Though she downgraded her plan to scratching him with her claws instead of stabbing him, her resolve to reprimand him remained unchanged.

With the desire to scold the Great Elder firmly in her heart, she kept fighting.

Besides the white elder she killed in the initial ambush, the remaining two were surprisingly difficult.

After one elder died, the others kept their distance, evading her while waiting for Odd Grad to defeat the Great Elder and come to their aid.

Foolish.

The Great Elder is far superior to the deceitful Odd Grad. Those dumb elders are clinging to false hope, unable to see the truth.

At that moment, the light of the stars flashed above her head from within the clouds. A familiar wave of power shook the clouds several times before expelling something.

「Traitor」 「Black kin」 「Dead」

「Mighty Odd Grad」 「Victorious」

The fall happened so quickly that she couldn't fully confirm it. Her opponents, too, seemed confused, and their companions mocked her.

But she knew instinctively.

Who the true victor was.

Of course, her thoughts were correct.

A black meteor fell upon the companion who had mocked her. As the stars shifted and a shadow swallowed the nest, the black star engulfed the white elder.

「Impossible」 「Impossible!」

The so-called ‘black kin’ they shouted about lifted its head and looked at her. Meeting her gaze, it nodded and immediately flew to her side.

[ZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ (Let's wrap this up quickly and go back)]

「Yes」

His calm demeanor was incredibly infuriating, but she couldn't say a word.

Even that demeanor seemed endearing to her.