Chapter 232:

Chapter 232:

After the battle ended, the ones who were part of the Odd Grad’s group were now part of the Adhai’s group, and returned to their former nest. Nel Germa was assigned to lead them.

Since Ham Ort’s injuries hadn't fully healed, she returned to the cave nest I created with Mother of the Sky. Once she finished her recovery there, she planned to gather the Blue Gallagons and join Odd Grad’s nest.

The rest of us are currently scouring the forest near the Twin Peaks to retrieve the fallen Gallagons from the battle.

While searching for bodies, PS-111 approached me.

PS-111, being interested in biological genetics and energy supply, didn’t go with Nel Germa but stayed here instead.

It had a Snow Banshee captured in its clawed hand.

“The analysis of the battle results indicates that body size has a significant correlation with combat effectiveness. May I use this creature as an energy source to recalibrate my form?”

“Kyik! Kyikikik!”

It seemed the Snow Banshee was coveting Gallagon's corpse before PS-111 caught it.

It hadn’t been long since we descended into the forest, so the Symbol of Hunt effect had ended. The odds of me obtaining genetic essence from consuming the Snow Banshee now were low.

‘There shouldn’t be a problem if I hand it over.’

[ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ (Just leave the Gallagon’s corpses behind.)]

“Understood.”

“Kyik?!”

With my permission, it swung its scythe-shaped claws. An invisible wind blade shot out, slicing the Snow Banshee.

Warm blood and entrails spilled onto the cold ground, and the tantalizing smell spread throughout the dry forest. PS-111 devoured the fragmented corpse.

There weren’t any threats to it nearby. Leaving it to its meal, I moved deeper into the forest.

「Big one, aren’t you hungry?」

(Z ZZZ ZZZZ [I plan to eat something else.)]

A little further from the Twin Peaks, I saw broken trees. The wide-spreading branches had snapped, a clear sign of something falling from the sky and colliding with them.

At the end of the shattered branches lay a black mass.

It looked like a meteorite that had fallen from space, but it was actually the decapitated body of Odd Grad.

It wasn’t just the head that was gone. The impact of the collision with the ground had completely crumpled his wings, and his torso was twisted into a grotesque shape.

This was the pitiful end of the black dragon who had overestimated his abilities and clung to the power of his former position.

「Is he the bad flappy leader?」

[ZZ (Yes)]

The meat of the Black Gallagon is an excellent source of nutrition. Even its forelimbs and head alone could provide a large amount of energy.

‘And it tastes amazing too.’

The meat of apex creatures always had a deep flavor that brought me pleasure. And the Black Gallagon was the strongest of all the apex creatures I had consumed. The taste was overwhelmingly superb.

‘I don’t need to obsess over energy anymore...’

Thanks to the Berserker Synapse and the Dragon Heart, my energy supply had become more abundant than before. But that didn’t mean I should pass up the chance to enjoy a delicious meal.

「Are you going to eat the leader?」

[Z (Yes)]

「Enjoy your meal.」

I was about to tear into the corpse when I suddenly remembered something.

Number 26, sitting on top of my head.

Though it had currently shrunk its body to just 50 cm, it originally measured nearly 10 meters. This was the result of absorbing the psychic power of an adult Sea Demon in the past, leading to its dramatic growth.

‘If I eat the Black Gallagon, won’t it have a similar effect?’

In the game, Gallagons and Sea Demons were renowned as high-tier psychic creatures. Although they differed in appearance, habitat, and behavior, they both wielded extremely powerful psychic powers.

Gallagons grew in nests where psychic power was abundant, accumulating vast amounts of energy in their bodies. On the other hand, Sea Demons maintained and passed on their accumulated psychic power by transferring it to another Sea Demon before their death.

‘Their methods differ, but they both contain a massive amount of psychic power.’

In fact, Number 26 had once fed psychic power to the Blue Gallagons. This time, I would use the Gallagon’s corpse to empower it.

I thrust my combat arms into the Black Gallagon’s abdomen.

“Are you eating?”

Just as I was about to tear into the tail, I heard a voice behind me.

Turning around, I saw PS-111. It had returned with a white Gallagon corpse beside it, presumably after collecting it while we were eating.

[ZZZ ZZZZ (So, you’ve gathered the bodies?)]

“Yes.”

It stared at me with its usual expressionless face.

Or more precisely, it was staring at the Black Gallagon’s tail in my hand.

Screamers are controlled by devices connected to their brains. All of their physical activities are under the machine’s command. The same applies to mutant screamers.

But at this moment, I could tell exactly what it wanted.

I tore off the tail and offered it to PS-111.

“That won’t be necessary.”

[ZZ ZZ (Take it when it's offered.)]

“Thank you.”

As expected of a machine, it didn’t refuse a second time.

After the brief feast, I headed to the location Adhai had indicated and retrieved the bodies.

We couldn’t carry them all, so we processed all but four on the spot. These four would be used for Ham Ort’s treatment and as food for the Gallagons.

Since I was larger, I carried three bodies, while Number 26 reverted to its original form and carried one. With our spoils in tow, we started back to the nest in the cave.

‘I think it might have changed.’

The appearance of Number 26, now puffed up, didn’t look much different from before. The fins that reminded me of a jellyfish and the tentacles protruding from its body were all familiar.

‘Did it get bigger?’

Number 26 can freely adjust its size, so it’s not easy to notice any changes.

The most accurate way to check would be to measure the amount of energy it was harbouring, but Number 26 is adept at concealing its psychic power. I wouldn’t know how much stronger it had become until it entered battle.

‘Well, it might not have grown at all, so there's no need to dwell on it.’

There are still a few things left to try out, like the dragon’s nest where psychic power continuously wells up.

While pondering these thoughts as we made our way back to the nest, one of my sensory organs picked up on a scent.

‘Huh?’

The scent was similar to fresh blood but slightly different. It was closer to the smell of metal. I couldn’t identify it, but it felt oddly familiar.

I stopped in my tracks.

「Big one, what’s wrong?」

“What’s the matter?”

[ZZ (Quiet.)]

I lowered my head close to the ground. At first, I thought the metallic scent might be coming from something buried in the soil, but that didn’t seem to be the case.

As I examined the scent, my gaze fell on PS-111. Its biomechanical body, a mix of metal and organic matter typical of Screamers, emitted a scent of metal and the chemicals necessary for sustaining life.

This was very similar to the scent my sensory organ had detected.

[ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ (Does this area fall within a Screamer’s operating range?)]

“Not until my main controller was altered.”

I’ve traversed this forest, which leads to the Twin Peaks, many times. If there had been a Screamer, I would have encountered it already.

[ZZZZ ZZZ Z ZZZZ (I smell a Screamer. Confirm it.)]

“Understood.”

PS-111 extended detection equipment resembling snail antennae from its eyes. It lowered its body close to the ground, using its hose-like sensors to probe the traces left behind.

It wasn’t long before it discovered tracks on the ground.

Three claw marks reminiscent of a bird’s foot.

They were Screamer tracks.