Chapter 216:


    [TL/N : Changed PS-111 dialogues from ‘[ ]’ to “ “ because the author changed it in the RAWS.]


    “You''re back?”


    As we returned to the nest, PS-111 greeted us. The Mother of the Sky and Number 26 were nowhere to be seen.


    [ZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZZ (Anything happend? Any encounters with enemies?)]


    “We did not encounter any ''Gagon'' entities. The main controller is still aboard the Cult cruiser.”


    [ZZZZ ZZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (That''s a relief. Has the Mother of the Sky returned yet?)]


    “The ''Middle Child'' left for reconnaissance and hasn''t returned.”


    It seemed that PS-111 was holding down the fort at the nest, while Number 26 was protecting the Gagons on the cruiser. the Mother of the Sky had gone off to monitor the Odd Grad swarm and hadn''te back yet.


    I set down a few cocoons I had brought with me.“What''s that?”


    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZ ZZ ZZZZ (Cocoons made by the Hellside Ho. Want to try one?)]


    “It appears to be an intriguing organicpound.”


    [ZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZZ (There''s liquid inside, just drink it.)]


    ?Understood.”


    PS-111 extended its long limbs towards the cocoons. It skillfully used its ded legs to slice one open and then spread its wed hand wide, allowing the liquid to spill into it.


    Having consumed the StarUnion’s energy-absorbing device, the ‘Blood River,’ it sometimes fed this way, absorbing nutrients. I wondered if it could even taste anything, but it didn’t seem to care.


    “This contains a high concentration of essential nutrients. Can this organicpound be acquired inrge quantities?”


    [ZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (This is all I could bring.)]


    “I rmend securing more of this organicpound in the future.”


    The first time I drank the liquid from the cocoon, I felt my wounds heal almost instantly. It wasn''t just my imagination, it was as PS-111 analyzed it was rich in nutrients.


    It made sense, after all. It was the result of dissolving an entire living organism and then fermenting it.


    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ (I should take some to the cruiser too.)]


    ?Young kin??Food??


    [ZZZ (Yes.)]


    It had been a day and a half since they holed up inside the cruiser. The Gagons there hadn''t ventured out for hunting, as a Green Gagon pursuit squad could appear in the area at any time.


    Although the Cruiser had plenty ofbat rations left behind by the Cult crew, they weren’t suitable for Gagons. So they’ve likely been starving this whole time.


    ‘It’d be a huge loss if they starve to death.’


    Bringing the Blue Gagons was part of a n to win over the remnants of Adhai and Ham Ort. I hadn’t even collected the favour for saving their lives yet, so I wasn’t about to let them die here.


    Adhai, unaware of my true intentions, seemed pleased when she saw me trying to help them.


    ?Young kin??Hunger??Relief??Adult??Task??Me??Adult??Kin??Food??Deliver?


    [ZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZZ (Alright. Just carry this and this.)]


    ?No??Problem.?


    Even after leaving PS-111 behind at the nest, Adhai kept chattering away. Just like a few days ago, it seemed like she wanted to be a good role model for the young hatchlings, regardless of her feelings toward the kin who had abandoned her.


    ‘Maybe she’s trying to erase the painful memories.’


    I engaged in small talk with Adhai as we made our way through the forest. Before long, the ivory-colored cruiser came into view between the trees. I could sense the Cult members imnted with parasites moving around inside.


    ?Hello, Big Baby!?


    And then Number 26 sensed me too, sending out a wave of recognition from inside the ship. A momentter, it leaped out of the open hangar.


    ‘Huh?’


    The creature approaching me was clutching five Gagons with blue scales. These Blue Gagons, each over 2 meters long, were nestled snugly into a massive 10-meter long pink jellyfish-like entity. They all seemed as content as if they were nestled in their mother’s embrace.


    [ZZZ ZZZZ (What’s that?)]


    ?The little ones were hungry, so I fed them!?


    [ZZZZZ ZZZ (Fed them?)]


    Just as it said, the tentacles of the Blue Gagons were embedded in the psychic energy radiating from Number 26''s body.


    ‘Are they feeding on psychic power?’


    The way the slender tentacles periodically puffed up like straws made it clear they were syphoning psychic power.


    ‘Come to think of it, that’s not impossible.’


    Number 26 had rapidly grown by absorbing the psychic power of the dead Sea Demon. It made sense that it could also transfer that power to the Gagons, who were also psychic creatures.


    ‘Now that I think about it, their scales seem different…’


    Upon closer inspection, the Blue Gagons cradled in its arms had an odd coloration. While predominantly blue, they had green stripes running through them.


    [ZZZZ ZZZ (Were they always like that?)]


    ?I don’t know.?


    Adhai, noticing something strange as well, tilted her head in confusion while looking at the hatchlings.


    At that moment, Ham Ort’s group appeared behind Number 26. White Gagon Nel Germa was among them, along with three Green Gagons that it had brought along.


    I offered the cocoons I had brought to them. Finally noticing the cocoons held by my arms and tentacles, Number 26 asked:


    ?What’s that??


    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ (Food. I bought it for everyone to eat.)]


    ?It''s shaped weird.?


    ?Appearance??Funny??But??Delicious?


    Adhai''sment sparked curiosity, and one of the creatures extended its tentacles, wrapping them around a cocoon. It then spread out a part of its body, not the part cradling the Blue Gagons, like a nket and swallowed the entire cocoon whole.


    Inside its semi-transparent pink body, the cocoon began to dissolve, releasing the liquid within. As it absorbed the liquid, its body shimmered like a mirror ball, glowing brightly.


    ?Tasty!?


    Once it started eating, the other Gagons showed interest in the cocoons as well. The moment they tasted the cocoon, their eyes curved into crescent shapes, a clear sign of delight.


    ?Gratitude??Kindness??Not forgotten?


    Nel Germa, who had tasted a bit of the cocoon and then passed it to the hatchlings, expressed thanks to me. The Green Gagons beside it also sent waves of gratitude my way, albeit with some hesitation.


    ‘Not like I did something worth being thanked for.’


    It wasn’t exactly a gift. I fully intended to be repaid in the future for what I gave them.


    After delivering food to the Gagons, I returned to the nest to heal my injuries. As night fell, the Mother of the Sky finally returned to the nest.


    She brought back two crucial pieces of information.


    The first was that the Odd Grad group was making a move. Twelve White Gagons had left their nest simultaneously.


    My n was to defeat the White Gagons one by one before they could regroup. Adhai needed to consume a White Gagon to continue growing.


    ‘I also need the gic essence of the White Gagons.’


    Everything was going ording to n, except for the second piece of information, which posed a problem.


    [ZZZZ ZZZZ (Ham Ort is still alive?)]


    ?Yes. I saw the other Gagons carrying her away.?


    When everyone had gathered, she nodded her head in agreement.


    ording to the Mother of the Sky, Adhai''s mother was still alive. To be more urate, she was barely clinging to life.


    Upon hearing the news of Ham Ort''s survival, I could sense Nel Germa and the three Green Gagons growing uneasy. She was their former leader, so naturally, they wanted to rescue her.


    ‘Hmm.’


    The situation had be moreplicated.


    For starters, I wasn’t the leader of the Gagons hiding in the cruiser. I hadn’t defeated their leader inbat. While I had protected them and provided them with food, that alone wasn’t enough to make them turn their backs on their former leader.


    ‘Given time, they’ll likely follow me….’


    But that’s a meaningless assumption for now since it won’t happen immediately.


    Leaving Ham Ort to die is problematic too. She’s the only Gagon who knows Adhai’s secret. There’s still much valuable information to be extracted from her.


    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ (What if we rescue her after we take down the others, before attacking the nest?)]


    ?I’m not sure. Her injuries seem severe. I don’t know if she’ll hold out that long.?


    Moreover, we don’t have much time. The Snow-White Queen has been left in a severely injured state. While White Gagons are resilient creatures and couldst a day or two, beyond that, it’s uncertain.


    ‘What should we do?’


    The truth is, the answer to this dilemma is already clear.


    The nest is heavily guarded by numerous enemies. Attempting to rescue Ham Ort would mean engaging in an all-out battle, something we can’t afford given our current disadvantage.


    However, openly dering that we’re abandoning Ham Ort is another issue altogether.


    Doing so could negatively impact Nel Germa and the Green Gagons. While they’ve agreed to follow my lead, such a decision might cause them to resist or harbor resentment.


    ‘It''s already challenging enough to fight with everything we''ve got. An uncertain stance would only make things worse.’


    As I was pondering the best course of action, Adhai approached me.


    ?Great Elder??Ham Ort??Worry??Unnecessary?


    [ZZZ (Hmm?)]


    ?I??Confirm??Ham Ort??Strong??Compared to??Others??No Comparison??Pain??Ovee??Can??I??Believe??Survive??Will?


    Adhai assured me that Ham Ort was strong enough to survive.


    ?Daughter of the Meteor??Correct?


    ?Agree?


    The other Gagons nodded in agreement with Adhai, who was regarded as Ham Ort’s daughter and the savior of the Gagons.


    [ZZZZ (Are you sure about this?)]


    Understanding the intent behind my question, Adhai nodded confidently.


    ?It’s okay?


    [ZZZZ (Alright then.)]


    I knew why Adhai had acted this way. Being sharp, she must have noticed my unease and took it upon herself to reassure the other Gagons.


    However, despite her words, there was a hint of anxiety in her eyes. It was likely the lingering mix of love and resentment towards her mother.


    ‘Ham Ort needs to survive until Adhai’s heart finds peace.’


    The decision on Ham Ort’s fate wasn’t in the hands of the ck Dragon Odd Grad, but rather in those of his abandoned daughter, Adhai.


    Thanks to her, our next move was clear: we will take down the White Gagons that had gone hunting and then rescue Ham Ort as quickly as possible.


    ?Nel Germa??Knows??Hunting grounds?


    [ZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Alright, let’s head there first.)]


    For the hunt against the White Gagons, Adhai, I, Number 26, and Nel Germa would be the ones going. the Mother of the Sky continued her role as the scout, and PS-111 was tasked with guarding the cruiser.


    [The Cult’s fleet system isplex, but with the crew in ce, there should be no issues operating it.]


    [ZZZ ZZZ ZZZZZ (Still, just in case, I''m counting on you.)]


    [Understood.]


    With all preparationsplete, we were ready to move.


    Before we left, I called Mother of the Sky aside. It felt a bit unsettling to send her off again right after she had just returned.


    ?No need to apologize. It''s much easier to do this than to fight while flying.?


    [ZZZZ ZZZZ (I''m d to hear that.)]


    ?I’ve lost count of how many apologies I’ve heard from you, Amorph.?


    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZZ (The way you say it makes it seem like you''re truly okay with this.)]


    ?Oh, and if you manage to get a Gagon heart, save it for me.?


    [ZZZ ZZZ (I will. Stay safe.)]


    She gave a wink in response and vanished into the darkness.


    After sending her off, I lifted Number 26 onto my back and took to the skies. Adhai and Nel Germa were waiting, and they nodded slightly as I approached.


    ?Hunting ground??This way?


    Following Nel Germa''s lead, we moved swiftly. In this operation, time was crucial, so we pushed ourselves to be as fast as possible.


    We flew in silence for a long time, cutting through the dark, cloud-filled night sky. As we approached our destination, Nel Germa, who was leading, began to slow down.


    ?Nearby??Hunting ground?


    ?I??Sense??One of our kin''s??Power?


    [ZZZ ZZZ (How close are we?)]


    Adhai mentioned that the energy was faint and the distance significant, so we all slowed our pace.


    ‘Only one enemy? That’s lucky.’


    Usually, they move in groups of two or three, so this was unexpected. Still, I instructed the two Gagons to stay vignt and keep an eye out for anything unusual.


    As we moved through the clouds, I began to sense the Psychic Power closer to the ground. The enemy seemed to sense us as well, suddenly picking up speed.


    ‘They’ve noticed us.’


    [ZZ ZZ ZZ (Let''s strike now.)]


    ?Agreed.?


    [ZZZ (Hold on tight.)]


    ?Got it!?


    I warned Number 26 as I adjusted my wing angle for a steep dive. Nel Germa and Adhai, without missing a beat, followed close by my side.


    Below us, a white figure darted across the pitch-ck forest at a terrifying speed. The White Gagon was trying to escape.


    I anticipated its trajectory and fired a regr Psychic Breath in its path. The purple energy gathered in the tentacles around my head, neck, and under my jaw, forming a focused beam.


    The beam tore through the ground and trees with a thunderous crack. The White Gagon narrowly avoided the st and immediately tried to use its hyper-eleration ability to escape.


    But it wasn’t just me hunting tonight. Nel Germa, at my side, unleashed two more Psychic Breaths.


    The enemy skillfully evades one, twisting its body mid-air. The second beam nearly clipped its wing, but the White Gagon managed to deflect it with a counterattack— a Psychic Breath of its own.


    The collision of our powers sent shockwaves rippling through the sky, the impact echoing like thunder all around us.


    The White Gagon, realizing Nel Germa was more powerful, attempted to negate the Psychic Breaths and flee again. However, Adhai had closed in and began to unleash rapid-fire energy sts, reminiscent of a machine gun. The White Gagon couldn’t dodge this time; three of Adhai’s Psychic Breaths tore through one of its wings, leaving it unable to fly and crashing into the forest.


    ‘Got it.’


    Confirming its fall, Inded in the forest with Adhai and Nel Germa. Among the shattered trees, the white Gagony incapacitated.


    ‘Smaller than expected.’


    It was bigger than a Green Gagon or Adhai but significantly smallerpared to Nel Germa. It seemed recent to its White Gagon form.


    ‘This shouldn’t affect Adhai’s growth.’


    Feeding it to Adhai would confirm everything.


    I approached the fallen Gagon from the Odd Grad group. It only red at me, showing no signs of immediate aggression.


    Perhaps it feared us. Its wings were broken, but other parts seemed rtively intact. Given the aggressive nature of Gagons, it should have attacked us by now.


    ‘A cautious individual?’


    At that moment, A Gagon directed a thought wave at me.


    ?Are you the ck Gagon??


    [ZZZ (Yes?)]


    ?Trap??caught.?


    ‘A trap?’


    As soon as I sensed its thought wave, I felt a shiver run through my body. The air thickened, and the entire sense of the Amorph’s transcendental feeling triggered an rm. This intense feeling was something I had only experienced once before.


    ‘When the Imperial Carrier fired the Cosmic Bolt.’


    The sense of impending doom I felt was reminiscent of when I faced the absolute power that could scorch entires.


    This meant that a being of absolute power had its sights set on my life.


    The danger I sensed wasn’t something I alone perceived.


    ?ck Gagon???Great One!??Danger!?


    ?Leader??Near??Danger!??Danger!??Danger!?


    Looking back, I saw Adhai and Nel Germa in a state of panic, trembling uncontrobly.


    Even Number 26 was silently unleashing its Psychic Power, generating fins and tentacles, and activating its ''Deep Sea Terror'' trait.


    ‘Number 26?’


    Despite its size being unchanged on my back, it was fully armed. I had never seen Number 26 so alert before.


    ?Odd Grad!??Great Odd Grad!??Arrived!?


    As Nel Germa screamed out in thought waves, a colossal shadow emerged beyond the stormy clouds.


    The shadow of a gigantic ck dragon with two wings.


    ‘Great Odd Grad!’


    The king of the Gagon nest and ruler of this.


    Adhai’s father and the ck Dragon, Odd Grad, had arrived.