Chapter 295:

"Hmm."

This time, it focused on aiding Adhai's hunt. It refrained from using the "Symbol of Hunt" and had no expectations of acquiring any traits. Yet, the result was entirely unexpected.

"And yet..."

「‘Tyrantroid’ genetic essence acquired successfully.」

「Trait ‘Tyrantroid’ stolen from the Giganterium.」

「Would you like to apply the ‘Tyrantroid’ trait?」

Of all the traits, I never thought I would gain this one.

The trait earned by devouring the Apex creature was called ‘Tyrantroid’.

At first glance, it seemed to be either a physical trait or related to internal organs. However, it actually fell under the category of ‘environmental adaptation traits’.

According to its description, the Giganterium's body contained an organ that allowed it to effectively absorb and utilize energy under extreme conditions.

‘Tyrantroid’ was a special chemical substance secreted by this organ. Thanks to this, the creature could survive in virtually any environment with minimal limitations.

The key detail, however, was that this substance enhanced its combat ability. Every time the Giganterium grew enraged and increased in size, it was thanks to Tyrantroid.

"Now, even I can utilize this trait."

‘Tyrantroid’ was a transformation-inducing trait similar to ‘Bone Beast’ or ‘Symbol of the Hunt’. However, it only activated under specific conditions, making it more akin to the ‘Revenant Organ’.

"But it’s much easier to trigger than the Revenant Organ."

The activation condition for ‘Tyrantroid’ was simple: severe physical injury. Once triggered, the trait significantly boosted strength and energy output, causing the body to enlarge dramatically.

However, this came at a cost: movement became sluggish, akin to that of a lumbering beetle. The enlarged body made it a bigger target, and its slower speed was a critical drawback.

"Of course, that’s assuming the trait stands alone."

When combined with traits like Bone Beast, which hardens the body’s exoskeleton as it enlarges, or Revenant Organ, which activates only under grave injury, Tyrantroid becomes immensely powerful. A weapon of destruction tailored for the Amorph.

The drawback, however, was that the combo relied on sustaining injuries. If it failed to subdue its enemy while the traits were active, it would face significant disadvantages. At minimum, it needed a way to recover quickly from injuries or counteract the speed penalty.

"Currently, I have two means of recovery."

- Regeneration

- Hand of the Predatory Leech

The Predatory Leech Hand required it to physically seize its target, and the Regeneration ability had limited speed. While neither was poor, they were far from perfect.

This wasn’t a game—it was reality. Death meant the end. Until it could fully mitigate the drawbacks, the combo would remain sealed.

"Still, it’s better to have it than not."

The unexpected gift left it in high spirits.

「Why」「not moving?」

「Big One」「head」「eating」「sometimes」「like that.」

「Taste」「amazing?」

「Probably.」

"Ah."

Sensing thought-waves from various directions, it dismissed the semi-transparent text box.

In the darkness, purple eyes, like amethysts, glimmered as they stared at it. They appeared to be waiting for it to finish consuming the head.

[ZZ ZZZ (I’m done eating.)]

Upon hearing its words, Adhai used her Red Armor-empowered wings to sever the Giganterium’s two massive arms.

The Giganterium’s body, resembling a mix of gorilla and bear, had heavily developed arms. Each severed limb was enormous, spanning about 10 meters in length.

Placing the hefty chunks of meat on the ground, Adhai sent a wave of thought to her kin.

「Big One」「reward」「done.」「Now we」「eat too.」

As her thought-waves spread, the Gallagons lunged at the severed arms.

The White Gallagons moved in first, using their sharp claws to strip away fur and hide, embedding their facial tendrils deep within. Adhai skinned the hide to make the meal more accessible for the others before joining the feast herself.

The Green Gallagons, relatively weaker, inserted their tendrils into the wounds created by Adhai and the others, drinking the blood.

Though their scales were of varying hues—green, white—the tendrils shared a uniform color. As the violet, living siphons wriggled within the severed arms, the massive limbs visibly shrank.

Adhai had brought a total of ten Gallagons: three White Gallagons and seven Green Gallagons. Including herself, the eleven Gallagons fervently drained the blood, reducing the two arms of the Giganterium to shriveled husks in no time.

「Hunt」

「Success」

「Congratulations」

「Mm, thank you.」

Ham Ort bowed respectfully, and Adhai nodded in acknowledgment.

It had been a while since I last saw Ham Ort, and she had changed significantly. The scars that had once marred her scales were now gone, and her body had grown slightly larger.

"She must’ve thrived in such a good environment; she seems to have gained some weight."

Not that she was fat—far from it. As expected of Adhai’s mother, her distinctively alluring beauty remained unchanged. Her obsidian-colored scales gleamed smoothly, and her long, muscular body exuded vitality thanks to her well-toned muscles.

Her horns, however, hadn’t fully regenerated and remained asymmetrical, but the contrast only added a wild charm to her elegant form.

After greeting Adhai, Ham Ort turned to me, dipping her head slightly.

「Thank you.」

[ZZ ZZZ ZZ (I didn’t do anything.)]

「Adhai’s mate」

「Thanks to you」

「Kin」

「Were unharmed」

「Mate?」

「Not yet.」

「Big One, you made it back safely?」

From deeper within the cave, a massive pink creature emerged. Clutching a group of tiny blue Gallagons, it was Number 26.

「This time, you’re unscathed?」

[ZZZZ (Of course.)]

「Well done!」

26 seemed delighted that I had returned without a single injury. Its bioluminescent body, 25 meters in size, lit up the dark cave, turning it bright as day in an instant.

「What’s this?」

「So fascinating.」

「Again.」

「Do it again.」

The little Gallagons nestled against 26, absorbing its psychic energy, curiously prodded its body with their tiny front legs.

I placed the carcass of the Giganterium, which I had been carrying, in front of Ham Ort.

[ZZ ZZZZ ZZZ (This. Adhai brought it.)]

「The Beast King」

「Carcass」

「Why?」

Ham Ort tilted her head in curiosity, and Adhai answered in her stead.

「For the young」「To feed them」「Growth」「Nutrients」「Necessary」

「Great Adhai」「Mercy」「Thank you」

When Adhai explained that she had brought it to feed the younger Gallagons, Ham Ort wagged her tail gently—a clear display of pride in her daughter’s maturity.

[Z ZZ ZZ ZZ (Do we have more to hunt?)]

「Yes.」「But」「Kin」「Rest」「First」

[ZZ ZZZZ (Makes sense.)]

Since we were staying on this planet for at least another week, there was no need to rush.

The hunt was over; it was time for a well-deserved rest.