Chapter 126
After devouring the unique-grade equipment, I thoroughly searched the campsite to see if there were any useful items left. Meanwhile, the Mother of the Sky remained motionless, paying her respects to the fallen kin.
A day passed, and the Mother of the Sky sought me out while I rested at the nest. She expressed her willingness to assist in player hunting. According to her, if not, such tragedies would likely repeat.
｢I’d be grateful if you let me accompany you.｣
She added. In truth, even if she had decided to stay, I had considered forcibly bringing her along. Her mature form might become necessary, and her combat skills would undoubtedly be valuable in supporting Number 26 and Adhai.
With the Mother of the Sky volunteering as a companion, I took the opportunity to inquire about the things I had been curious about. I spent a day gathering essential information from her, such as the number of players, the existence of groups like clans in the game, the circumstances of everyone’s arrival in this world, and why no one had seen the ending yet.
The summary of what the Mother of the Sky revealed was as follows:
‘There were gatherings of players.’
She had arrived in this world 15 years ago, but player gatherings had been happening long before. However, by the time she became aware of them, conflicts had already arisen among various player groups.
Their disputes stemmed from a single difference in perspective:
‘Those who sought to see the ending and those who opposed it.’
According to the Mother of the Sky, a considerable number of players who attended the gatherings had already seen the ending, providing insight into what happened afterward.
‘Before becoming the Galaxy Conqueror, a message appears asking if they want to continue the game.’
They claimed that, based on the message displayed after seeing the ending in Space Survival, they could escape this world. However, the method was problematic. To see the ending, they had to kill leaders or individuals of the competing races, such as MegaCorp CEOs and Cult High Priests.
There were players in the gatherings who had survived for decades, or even centuries, in this world. For them, life here was more precious than their real lives. Surprisingly, there had been a player in the early gatherings who attempted the ending challenge.
In the early days of the gatherings, the player who attempted the ending was a cyborg ranker who held the top spot. He persuaded others who opposed him to see the ending together and successfully executed the plan.
‘He was the top ranker. Of course.’
The top ranker had an extraordinary sense of the game, and I had challenged him several times but never won. His player privilege was also on an unbelievable level, allowing him to add options related to equipment and module crafting that were otherwise impossible in the game.
Thanks to his abilities, the players in the gathering could bypass the condition of killing the leaders of hostile races. The remaining task was to subdue the raid boss, Vortex One.
The players in the gathering weren’t overly concerned about this part. After all, those who had seen the ending had won the game at least once before. The top ranker, in particular, had single-handedly slain both Vortex Ones simultaneously.
However, they failed. What happened to them after the challenge remained unknown. Whether they were wiped out by the Vortex Ones, faced an unexpected enemy, or had survivors other than those excluded from the defeat, no one knew.
The undeniable fact is that most players who attempted to see the ending perished, including the top ranker. The few surviving players simply stated that seeing the ending was impossible. Regardless, with the top ranker gone, reaching the ending peacefully became impossible. Thus, conflict between those seeking the ending and those opposing it was inevitable.
And there was new information that exacerbated this conflict even further: the plundering of privileges. Everyone knew that each player had their own privileges, but they were unaware that these privileges could be obtained by killing and looting other players. After the top ranker’s demise, this information spread throughout the gathering. What followed afterward can be inferred even without hearing about it: the players’ war. Those seeking the ending sought to devour and grow stronger by preying on those who chose to stay. Conversely, those who stayed did the same, either for their own benefit or survival, attempting to kill other players.
‘…In a way, perhaps the matter of seeing the ending or not might just be an excuse.’
In a different sense from the Mother of the Sky, they too may have become true residents of this world, divorced from reality. While the conflict had entered a state of relative calm a few years ago, it had been intense until then. So many players had died that those who barely survived numbered just over ten.
‘Of course, there might be someone like me coming to this world later.’
Anyway, after hearing descriptions of the players, we briefly introduced ourselves. Only then could I truly understand who she was.
‘She must have been the leader of the Savage Clan. I didn’t recognize her at all because she looked completely different.’
It was to be expected; her in-game nickname was entirely different from the Mother of the Sky, and her appearance was based on a tiger wolf, while the transformed animal after ascension was not a griffin but a ‘nue’*. Even though I suspected she might be someone I had seen before, I never imagined she was from the four major clans who fought in the jungle planet. The Savage Clan collapsed after fighting me, leaving only the clan leader as all the members quit the game. It’s truly unpredictable how one can end up journeying alongside someone from such a different world than reality.
[TL/N- For everyone who is confused about the species of the mother of the sky, she is a wolf, now do not get confused by the term.. As the wolf species are known to have transformative abilities.. No more information is available on how they transform what are the criteria etc. So let’s move further with the story when I get to know about everything.. I will write a separate TL note for that. Thank you.]
[*PR/N- Nue is a Japanese chimera having the head of a monkey, the limbs of a tiger, the body of a Japanese raccoon dog, and the front half of a snake for a tail.
｢So, where are we going now?｣
[ZZZ (Coast)]”
[TL/N- Now he can communicate with the mother of the sky through telepathy.]
Currently, she was in her griffin form, and we were heading towards the sea from the campsite. I ran through the forest at full speed with a backpack filled with loot tied to my tail, while she gracefully raced across the ground and trees. Her body, previously covered in bloodstains, shimmered with smooth golden fur, freshly washed from the campsite.
Even when dirty, her dense and sturdy muscles typical of a lion were impressive, but now, covered with beautiful fur, she certainly looked majestic as a griffin should. Like I carried a backpack, a pendant with a sapphire was hanging around the griffin’s neck. It was a pendant that allowed communication with opponents, a tool that didn’t exist in the game.
‘There’s someone among Muriel’s comrades responsible for equipment.’
The improved psionic, nano-spartan module, blood reaver, and other equipment she used in our fight were all made by that comrade. According to the conversation between Muriel and the Mother of the Sky, that comrade belonged to MegaCorp. So, the opponent’s identity is determined.
‘Garamelda.’
A noble capital family responsible for reinforced armor development, and in the game, players from that side mainly handled supplies.
‘Come to think of it…’
When I fought the armed police in the space city before, the reinforced armor they wore wasn’t ordinary reinforced armor.
‘It was intermediate reinforced armor with shields attached.’
Supply-type reinforced armor with shields attached was equipment that most MegaCorp players dreamed of. In the game, production was impossible due to balance issues, but here, in reality, if I were a MegaCorp player, I would try to make it somehow.
Even if there are no players in Garamelda, leaving such intelligent individuals alone would be disadvantageous for me in the long run.
‘Let’s deal with that side after the Gallagon’s Nest.’
If aiming for ascension, regardless of what happens, Earth and Mars must be conquered first. However, if a player responsible for equipment development is attached, the overall defense of the planet will endlessly increase, so it’s necessary to tidy up in advance.
‘Or should we clean up this side first before the Gallagon’s Nest?’
Lost in thought like that, the Mother of the Sky shot me a telepathic message.
｢The coast? I thought we’d go for the Hond Gigrant first, so it’s unexpected.｣
[ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ (There’s something important)]
｢Something important? Are you aiming for the essence of the aquatic creatures first to move to another continent?｣
As far as I know, the Mother of the Sky is ranked 15th among the wolf rankers. So perhaps that’s why she knew well what Amorph needed on this planet.
｢Unfortunately, you’re wrong.｣
[ZZZ ZZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ (No. We’ll go to the other continent later.)]
“No?”
[ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ(We’ll search for friends first.)]
Because we have to find Number 26 and Adhai first.
But as I was lost in thought, the Mother of the Sky interrupted my train of thought.
｢You have friends?｣
[ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ (Yes. We parted ways when we entered this planet.)]
Hearing that, the Mother of the Sky chuckled.
｢You have friends?｣
[ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ (Don’t make me repeat it several times.)]
“Huh. It’s hard to believe.”
[ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ (It’s not because of Amorph. It’s hard to believe that you have friendly creatures with you.)]
The Mother of the Sky said decisively. Hearing that, I was puzzled.
‘Do you consider me a monster?’
Looking into her eyes, it seemed like she wasn’t joking, but rather sincerely believed that. Of course, it’s true that I had no friends, whether in reality or in the game. In reality, there were various reasons, and in the game, since it was Amorph, it was more efficient to eat than to make friends or allies.
[ZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ (Having allies is beneficial.)]
｢…Indeed, I wonder who the ‘friends’ you’re travelling with are.｣
[ZZZ ZZZ ZZ(They are good fellows.)]
“……”
The Mother of the Sky opened her mouth wide but soon closed it again. She seemed to have a lot to say, but she didn’t say anything more.
So, we just ran for a whole afternoon. We solved our meals by catching and eating wild creatures we found while moving. Neither she nor I needed to sleep, so it wouldn’t be a big problem to endure for a few weeks.
She seemed to be half-doubting whether I was really going to meet allies, but she didn’t bring up that topic again.
Anyway, as we kept moving without rest, the thick and giant redwoods around us began to thin out. Instead of red and green paints, what appeared was a canvas painted with blue paint scattered around.
I untied the backpack hanging from my tail and stood on the white sandy beach where the blue waves surged.
‘I’m going to use the monster’s tentacles for a Psychic Breath now. It’s the first time since becoming a Quasi-Saint.’
Adhai, who is sensitive to psychic power, should be able to detect it even from a distance.
｢What are you doing?｣
[ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ (Step back. I’m going to call it.)]
Though she still seemed skeptical of my words, the Mother of the Sky wasn’t foolish enough to talk back to me.
Sensing the griffin stepping back, I prepared for the energy to come out.
Bundles of tentacles hanging under my head began to move after a long time. Sharp violet tentacles wriggled like the legs of an octopus, all pointing forward.
Next, I felt energy moving rapidly from my tail to my head. Unlike before, with each movement of energy, the patterns on my outer layer emitted a gradual violet light.
“……”
The Mother of the Sky, who was behind me, stepped back for a while, probably sensing the tremendous psychic power emanating from my body.
From tail to lower body, lower body to waist and chest, and then the tentacles near the head around the neck.
The monster’s tentacles extracted all the psychic powers that were embedded in various parts of my body.
And then.
‘It’s quite big, isn’t it?’
In front of me appeared a violet sun with a diameter of 6 meters. Considering my length of 20 meters, it wasn’t large compared to my body, but it was ridiculously large compared to the psychic breath I used before.
‘But it took a bit longer to charge.’
I raised my head in that state. The essence of the psychic powers brought forth by the monster’s tentacles also rose in response to my movements.
‘…It’s too big to handle.’
Externally, it looked static, but inside the sphere, the breath of the Gallagon was surging.
Thinking that it was enough by now, I released the sealed energy.
Above my head, a cosmic Gallagon spread its wings and soared. With each flap of the Gallagon’s wings, the white sands laid around fluttered, and the waves of the sea reversed.
The heat lines of the psychic power that made the auxiliary organ under my chin look heavy tore through the air and rose endlessly.
More and more.
It flew until it tore apart the white clouds floating in the blue sky above the blue sea.
After the Gallagon flew away, all that was left was a blue sky without a single cloud and violet particles falling like snow.
I judged it was enough and lowered my head that had been raised high.
[ZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ (Now we wait.)]
“……”
The Mother of the Sky, who witnessed me shooting the Psychic Breath, was staring blankly at the sky.
“This is strange. It should definitely be a Quasi-Saint, but how is this possible? Could it be a special bonus effect? No, unless the species changes, this is…”
While I was lying on the beach waiting, the Mother of the Sky muttered indistinct words as she looked at the spot where the Psychic Breath passed.
After a while, the Mother of the Sky, who had been mumbling for a long time, somehow seemed to have convinced herself and lay down on the white sandy beach. However, seeing fear in her eyes, it didn’t seem like she felt comfortable lying down like me.
Ignoring her, I picked up the insect that was crawling stealthily in front of me and put it in my mouth.
At that moment, the Mother of the Sky stood up, having seen something in the distance. With her superior eyesight, she peered beyond the orange-tinted sky.
｢Amorph.｣
[ZZZ (What is it?)]
｢…Is it possible that the allies you were talking about include a Green Gallagon?｣
There is only one Green Gallagon on this planet.
‘Adhai has come.’
I, too, stood up and waited until the creatures arrived. After about 5 minutes of waiting, Adhai’s figure began to appear to me.
‘Huh?’
But something was off. Adhai’s movements were much slower than usual, and somehow, it looked unnatural.
‘What’s going on? What happened?’
Above all, I couldn’t feel the movement of Number 26, who should have followed from underwater.
‘Could it be…’
I quickly spread a new nest on the beach.
If the size was enough for Adhai and Number 26 to lie down.
However, as I was building the nest, the situation changed abruptly. Adhai seemed unable to fly anymore and fell onto the sand.
[ZZZ ZZZ ZZ (Adhai!)]
The Mother of the Sky quickly flew up, grabbed Adhai with her beak, and landed smoothly on the ground.
It was difficult to describe Adhai’s condition even in empty words. The griffin’s beak holding him and the sand on the beach were dyed bright red in an instant.
I received Adhai from the Mother of the Sky, transplanted the symbiotic spores, and placed him on the nest.
As the symbiotic organism wriggled and injected healing fluid into his body, Adhai’s breath became more relaxed. Although severe wounds that revealed organs and bones were slowly healing, they were still visible.
‘What happened here?’
Adhai arrived with severe injuries. And Number 26, who couldn’t be seen.
A dark unease descended upon my heart like a night sky.
