Chapter 294:

Fifteen years ago, the Mother of the Sky arrived in this world.

She first met her late husband, the Father of the Earth, ten years ago. After forming a bond with him, she continued to interact with the players for a time.

However, she had already grown weary of the endless conflicts between the players. Their relationship didn’t last long. Perhaps it was destined to end the moment she decided to share her fate with the inhabitants of this world.

That said, there was one player who had a close relationship with her before her seclusion. This was the 22nd-ranked Coldblooded Player, someone who failed to see the ending, as they did not reach the top 20.

The Mother of the Sky met the 22nd-ranked player ten years ago, shortly after meeting the Father of the Earth. At that time, she reportedly debated whether to assist the immature 22nd-ranked player or remain by the Father of the Earth’s side.

While she cut ties with other players after their marriage, she maintained contact with the 22nd-ranked player for about a year. Their relationship ended when the 22nd stopped reaching out.

She left the device used to communicate with the 22nd in a location known only to her. To reactivate it, the Mother of the Sky returned to the Saintopia-02 continent on planet PH-101.

Thanks to her ascension to a higher tier of deification, she had acquired wings, enabling her to travel faster than light, much like myself. Furthermore, her small size made it easy to infiltrate the planet while avoiding the Cults’ surveillance.

Before departing, she said it would take about a week. In the meantime, the rest of us decided to wait on the planet where Adhai’s Gallagon pack resides.

This place, which Adhai calls “White Stone”, was once part of the Gorgon Swarm’s territory.

The Gorgon Swarm, which roams the cosmos, is a terror to spacecraft, so no one dares to visit this star system. With no visitors, few even know of this planet’s existence.

"Not that they could easily enter, even if they did."

True to its name, the planet’s surface is entirely covered in ice. Its average temperature is far colder than Adhai’s homeland, making it seem uninhabitable.

However, beneath the thick layers of ice lies a completely different world. The geothermal heat from the planet’s core creates a habitable ecosystem below. There’s a lake vast enough to be called a sea, and unique ice-world creatures thrive here.

Thanks to the psychic energy radiating around the geothermal areas, Adhai’s pack successfully settled in this underground sanctuary.

This subterranean realm is the Gallagons’ new kingdom.

And now, the kingdom’s ruler is moving to repel an invader.

---

“Groooaaaaar!”

A massive beast, with the head of a mammoth and a body blending features of a bear and a gorilla, lets out a deafening roar.

Its two pairs of six-meter-long tusks flash like lightning as they shoot toward my torso. My winged arms and combat arms react swiftly, grabbing hold of its tusks.

This brute of a predator is incredibly strong, with tremendous weight to match. It leverages its mass, pushing its tusks forward to drive me back. One of my legs shifts a step backward under the force.

But it misunderstands something.

My strength surpasses its own.

The four arms holding its tusks swell as the muscles ripple and expand. Slowly but surely, its massive body begins to lift off the ground.

“Grooo?”

The beast lets out a confused noise as it dangles in midair, tusks still caught in my grip. Having never encountered a stronger foe in this underground world, its shock is evident.

“Groooooar!”

Its escape routes blocked, it tries a different tactic—swinging its powerful forelimbs. Resembling the front legs of a bear, these limbs are living battering rams. As one swings toward my winged arms, the two long necks flanking my head coil around its forelimbs.

The mouths at the ends of these necks sink their fangs into its shoulders and the back of its neck.

“Groooooaaar!”

「Grrrrrrrrr」

The beast screamed in agony, unable to endure the pain of its flesh being torn away. Through the two heads latched onto its body, its thick fur gave way, allowing its warm flesh and blood to seep into my mouths.

The sweetness was nearly intoxicating, but I stayed composed, issuing my next command. The tendrils extending from the central head swayed, emitting a peculiar signal.

[ZZZZ (Now)]

The signal rippled outward, reaching the icy ceiling above us. Hidden among the frozen canopy, Gallagons unfurled their wings in unison.

Sha Velma, a White Gallagon with a thin and sinewy frame, unleashed her breath attack, striking the back of the beast I was holding. The violet thermal beam scorched its fur, but the wound was superficial.

Next came the breath attacks of the Green Gallagons, their emerald-scaled forms darting about as they rained their energy from every angle. Some of their strikes glanced off my arms, but the pain was negligible.

“Grrrrr! GRAAAAH!”

The beast, however, endured most of the attacks with minimal damage. The mild irritation seemed only to fuel its rage.

This rage was unmistakable, as the creature's body began to swell.

‘Troublesome.’

Ordinary Giganteriums typically measured between 8 to 10 meters tall, even when enraged rarely surpassing 20 meters.

But this monster’s initial size was already 20 meters. Its tusks alone were three times the usual length, and when it raged, it grew to a size comparable to my own, meeting my eyes at full height.

Considering its sheer size and power, it was no surprise even Ham Ort struggled to defeat it.

‘And the location didn’t help either.’

This battle took place in an underground cavern beneath the ice layers—an environment unfavorable to the Gallagons. The tight space limited flight capabilities, and even the Black Gallagons’ unique Maelstrom ability was unusable.

‘Yet, we managed to defeat it somehow.’

I glanced at Adhai and the Gallagons gathering around the fallen Giganterium.

This victory wasn’t mine. Adhai had devised the strategy, and I had merely served as bait. The true credit for defeating this formidable foe belonged to the winged dragons of the underground kingdom.

‘She’s grown so much.’

Amid the group, Adhai stood tall, her head high and her wings unfurled. Watching her orchestrate a hunt and lead her kin to triumph stirred an odd sense of pride in me.

Then, her gaze met mine. Flapping her wings, she flew over to me.

「Big One」 「I」 「did well?」

[ZZ ZZZZ (You were magnificent.)]

「Yes」 「I」 「Daughter of the Stars」 「am amazing」

Her tail swayed excitedly at my compliment, its smooth, unblemished surface almost inviting me to poke it with my fingers.

「Big One.」

[ZZ (Hmm?)]

She called out to me again.

「Big One」 「Hunt」 「important role」 「Bait」 「critical」

[ZZ ZZ ZZ ZZZZZ ZZZZZ (The victory is yours and your kin's, not mine.)]

「Without Big One」 「Kin」 「would’ve been hurt」 「So」 「reward」

She tilted her head slightly, and the Gallagons surrounding the Giganterium immediately stepped back.

「Big One」 「Head」 「valuable」 「I offer it to you」

[ZZZ ZZZ ZZZ (You’re giving me the head?)]

「Yes.」

This hunt was meant for Adhai and her kin. I had intentionally refrained from using my Symbol of Hunt to let them claim the victory, yet she insisted on offering the spoils to me.

‘Well, if she insists.’

Dozens of violet eyes glistened brightly as they looked at me, making it hard to refuse. After stroking Adhai affectionately, I approached the fallen Giganterium.

“Grhhh...”

The beast's labored breath faltered as I loomed over it.

The Giganterium's infamous resilience had become a curse in its current state. Mutilated and gasping for air, the beast seemed to long for death.

I brought my central head down upon its own, clamping my jaws firmly. My fangs pierced its thick hide and skull with a satisfying crunch. The beast convulsed violently for a moment before going limp.

With the Giganterium slain, I tightened my neck muscles and yanked its head back. The creature's neck quivered as I tore the head free, taking part of its spine along with it.

The other Gallagons stared intently at my heads and mouths as I prepared to feast. Their fascination was almost palpable.

‘As expected.’

Under their watchful eyes, I swallowed the still-warm head whole. My side heads eagerly caught and devoured the scraps of vertebrae and flesh that trailed behind.

‘I shouldn’t expect a trait to....’

“Predation effect activated!”

「Grhh?」

The moment the Giganterium's remains slid down my throat, a semi-transparent text box appeared before my eyes.

The side head licking the dripping blood off its jaws reflected my own surprise perfectly.