abcnovels
Chapter 168
Chapter 168
Chapter 168
Chapter 168
Early in the morning, I ascended to the nest with The Mother of the Sky. Upon the ice lump placed at the entrance of the nest, a considerable weight of snow had accumulated overnight. After clearing the ice lump, I waited briefly in the icy corridor.
The Mother of the Sky exited before me. Her superior vision allowed her to inspect the skies for any potential dangers.
After observing for a few minutes, she signaled safety by wagging her tail.
Clearing the snow and ice, the landscape appeared unchanged from yesterday.
The only difference was that the biting snowstorm had ceased. Thanks to this, The Mother of the Sky seemed less cold than yesterday.
?Still, we can’t linger.?
Glancing upwards, the sky was still filled with clouds. We had to hurry as we didn’t know when snow and hail might pour again.
[ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (What was it that we needed to acquire?)]
?Winter Walker, the heart of Ice Horror.?
Winter Walker and Ice Horror. Both are creatures that inhabit icy planets or the polar regions of terrestrial planets.
Adhai knew about both creatures, resembling animals. He had seen Winter Walker himself, and Ice Horror was described by another Gallagon.
‘Both are fortunate to be on this planet, but…’
Besides the challenging condition of the cold environment, the specifications of both creatures were formidable. Among them, Ice Horror was particularly powerful.
[ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (It won’t be easy.)]
“Yeah. Winter Walker might be manageable, but Ice Horror is the problem.”
She was right. Ice Horror was one of the most dangerous predators in extreme cold.
Though considered weaker than Sea Demons or Black Gallagons who were treated as raid bosses, Ice Horror was evaluated as a formidable foe due to its unique traits and superior stats. I had failed to defeat it in the game several times.
‘But we are four.’
A combination of a Gallagon, a Sea Demon, an Amorph, and a Wolf griffin. With our powers combined, we should be able to overcome it.
‘I have to hunt Ice Horror anyway.’
In my case, to become an ascendent, I needed to hunt 30 powerful creatures classified as APEX. Since Ice Horror was classified as an APEX, hunting it would be beneficial.
[ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ (The problem is where to find it.)]
?Yeah. It doesn’t roam on the surface..?
Ice Horror doesn’t search for prey but instead lays traps within its territory to hunt creatures that enter. In simple terms, it’s like a spider living in extreme cold.
‘Although they look very different.’
Anyway, it takes quite some time to find Ice Horror.
It can dwell wherever there’s prey but is a master of concealment. I’m quite good at hiding, but I can’t compare to Ice Horror. Unless I approach its territory and traps very cautiously, it’s impossible to confirm its presence.
[ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (If it’s nearby, it’s worth trying to lure it.)]
If it’s not around, I might have to wander far.
[ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZ (Ice Horror takes time, so let’s find Winter Walker first.)]
?Good idea.?
The Mother of the Sky also came to the same conclusion as me.
Unlike Ice Horror, Winter Walker is a creature that actively hunts for preys. Adhai said it’s quite common, so we should be able to find it quickly.
With our goal set, we ran across the snow-covered plain. As I crawled through the ice and snow piles, a golden wolf griffin raced beside me.
Her mane and the sapphire pendant around her neck swayed wildly in the winter wind. Beneath her mane, muscles previously hidden under fur rippled. Despite her densely packed muscles not being for show, her movements were remarkably agile.
She moved swiftly like the wind, but I was no pushover either. Her six combat arms turned legs shattered the ice while dragging my body forward. From behind, her tail and bulky claws scattered the snow with each step.
Compared to her graceful movement through the air, mine was noisy, but I matched her speed.
Thanks to our rapid movement akin to a high-speed train, we approached the mountains quickly.
The black mountains towering above the white horizon felt like structures erected by an unknown presence. The nature that created those mountains also seemed transcendent, so my feeling might be accurate.
Amidst the breathtaking scenery, the scent of life was strong in the black mountains. Tall trees grew densely on the hardened soil.
Perhaps because they grew in the extreme cold of the polar region, the trees all looked similar. Their trunks were long and slender, but as they ascended, their branches spread intricately. These branches intertwined with those of other trees, firmly anchoring them together.
They seemed to have adapted to the frequent gales blowing in this environment.
[ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ (We need to be careful.])
If there’s a forest, it means there’s abundant prey. It’s a good environment for Winter Walkers and Gallagons to roam and hunt.
I slowed down and focused on my auxiliary organs while moving. The Mother of the Sky beside me also walked cautiously, keeping an eye on our surroundings.
Her four auxiliary organs under her jaw twitched, brushing the ground as they flickered. Each time they did, events happening around us flowed into my brain through the organs.
‘From the vibrations felt on the ground, there are probably two or three enemies.’
Although the intensity of the vibrations suggests a considerable distance, there was something peculiar. The vibrations seemed to intertwine and then separate repeatedly.
What could this mean?
‘A fight.’
I lifted my head from the ground.
As long as movements of creatures presumed to be our targets are felt in the forest, we must move quietly from now on. Instead of using vocal organs, I summoned The Mother of the Sky using the monster’s tentacles.
?There’s a fight ahead, right??
[ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (it’s a bit far)]
?We should check it out, right??
Judging from the vibrations, both are terrestrial animals. If it were a Gallagon, with its ability to fly, vibrations would have been sporadic.
The Mother of the Sky and I cautiously moved along with the vibrations.
As we approached the epicenter, we heard the sounds of trees breaking in the distance and the roar of beasts.
The low sound, similar to a tiger’s growl, was the sound of Winter Walker. It’s fighting its prey.
Hearing the sound, we stopped moving. If we approached further, the noise of my movement would be heard from the other side.
?I’ll go up and check from above.?
The Mother of the Sky ascended the tree with a graceful movement.
The trees here aren’t sturdy enough for me to climb. I placed my auxiliary organs on the ground again and listened to the sounds and vibrations of the enemies.
‘The enemies are small and agile.’
In size, they’re roughly similar to The Mother of the Sky, and their legs…
‘Between eight and nine.’
As far as I know, there are no creatures with eight legs inhabiting ice planets. Maybe if they had hundreds of legs or no legs at all, but…
‘Could it be a species I’m not aware of?’
At that moment, The Mother of the Sky, having finished scouting, leaped down from the tree.
[ZZZ (Did you see?)]
?One side is a Winter Walker. The other one is…?
She hesitated for a moment before continuing.
?It seems to be a Screamer.?
[ZZZ (What?)]
Why would a machine monster from Star Union like a Screamer be here? If what she said is true, then this place would be Star Union territory.
?How many ships of Star Union have been swallowed? I haven’t seen any route leading here.?
[ZZZ ZZZZ (Are you sure its a screamer?)]
?To be honest, I’m not sure. A creature resembling a Screamer is fighting with Winter Walker.?
It seems we need to see it for ourselves. She and I moved again.
As we ran through the trees, we found Winter Walker and a mysterious monster.
No, let me correct that. It was Winter Walker’s corpse with its head severed, and a monster resembling a Screamer.
[Hostile creature eliminated.]
The creature standing on the battlefield turned into a bloody mess. Even for someone like me who has played the game for a long time, it was the first time seeing such a monster.
‘Is that a Screamer?’
With a human head and torso attached to tubes and metal mechanical devices, with a tail, and six legs made of metal skeleton, it crawled on the ground. Though it shared similarities with a Screamer, there were many differences.
In short, it looked less mechanical than the original.
While a typical Screamer had tubes plugged into its mouth, generating sound through the mechanical devices, this creature had its mouth exposed, enabling it to produce sounds on its own without the rough breathing caused by the tubes.
Except for its pale face reminiscent of a human, from the back of the head, it had a biomechanical appearance with tissues, tubes, and mechanical devices intertwined. Unlike a Screamer where the distinction between machine and flesh was clear, this creature didn’t have such separation in its body.
The eight legs extending from its body were also the same. Legs with a red muscle and tube entwined form on a metal skeleton. Beneath the slender and thin legs were three pointed alloy claws instead of feet.
If the original Screamer reminded one of a scorpion, the creature in front of me was a mix-breed spider, a hybrid spider created by mixing biological and mechanical components.
‘It’s not just intimidating in appearance.’
Winter Walker, with its head severed, fell victim to it. If it killed Winter Walker in a one-on-one battle, it means it possesses considerable skills.
However, it didn’t seem to have completely overwhelmed its opponent.
Two of its legs seemed heavily damaged, with their metal skeletons heavily distorted, making them appear immobile. And around its torso, where machinery and flesh were entangled, it bled dark red blood.
[Insufficient energy. Initiating self-supply.]
Muttering so, the creature opened its mouth wide and hastily began tearing into Winter Walker.
‘No need to wait any longer.’
We can confirm the creature’s identity firsthand. That’s the way of the Apex, after all.
‘It’s all the same once you’re eaten.’
The Mother of the Sky read my expression and leaped up into the trees. Simultaneously, I dashed towards the creature feasting on Winter Walker.
[Enemy detected.]
The creature, focused on its meal, didn’t even look at me but anticipated my ambush. Without missing a beat, it leaped into the air from its feeding position. Like a speeding truck, I crashed into the corpse of Winter Walker.
[Hostile creature identified. Subdue…]
The spider-like monster, about to shout something from above, couldn’t fulfill its intention.
The Mother of the Sky burst through the trees and struck the creature’s head with her forelegs. The creature’s neck twisted grotesquely as it narrowly evaded the attack.
?Tsk!?
Regretting the failed strike, The Mother of the Sky landed. Despite dodging all of our attacks, the spider monster landed on the ground and immediately distanced itself.
?Isn’t it a Screamer??
If it were a Screamer, it would have immediately attacked once it noticed us. However, the creature didn’t do so. It seemed to be considering exploring, tilting its head to glare at both of us.
[Hostile creature 2 confirmed. Left creature. 89% match with Special Target Type C. Right creature…]
The creature that looked at me widened its red eyes. It glared at me with eyes resembling blood and menacingly twitched its head.
[75% match with set target. Main controller ‘Pira Eleven’ command delay. Autonomous judgment required. Subdue target.]
The creature muttered incomprehensible words and crouched down, assuming a combat stance.
I, too, prepared to attack while keeping my eyes on its movements.
I don’t know if the creature is truly a Screamer or a new type of weapon. However, if it is a Screamer, the situation becomes grave.
‘The possibility of a Screamer roaming alone here is close to zero.’
There’s a high chance that the creature has reinforcements somewhere I’m not aware of. Since there’s a Gallagon nest on this planet, they might have come as a small elite force, but I can’t afford to be complacent.
‘I need to deal with this quickly and assess the situation.’
As soon as I had that thought, the creature leaped at me like lightning.