Chapter 179: The Forest of Profane (3)
VIkUpon Rian’s remark, Shirone snapped his fingers.52Q
qj3d“Right, let’s think about it. If there are living creatures, they must consume something. Considering the food chain in an ecosystem is pyramid-shaped, if we extract the distribution of predators alone, it might look something like this.”UqMY8uU
smKShirone drew a pyramid with complex curves, resembling a woman’s body.41nVqf
PGwIt depicted lower predators, middle predators, and top predators, with a few mutant predators mixed in.UsOAQha
hbePSince only carnivores were marked, the bottom and middle layers showed equal distribution.xkb
pMX“What about these mutant predators?”
“Among predators, there are many that don’t hunt for their food. Some might use traps, or some might feed based on their intellectual abilities, like monkeys in our world.”YHg37O
CKp3l“I see. So where do the Giants fit in?”Km0qs
xdJXx4“Given that gravity and the presence of air are similar, their biological characteristics wouldn’t deviate much. If we assume that, they would be somewhere around here, between middle and top predators.”i3Jghr
VhtHo“Whoa, are Giants mutant predators? They’re that strong?”tXgi6T
wg9“Well, there’s a possibility they are top predators. If so, there is hope for us, but their combat style is too primitive. Even cats hunt in a refined manner. But uprooting trees to swing around doesn’t seem very helpful for hunting. That’s why I classified them as mutant predators.”gk2
33AIqOlTess tilted her head and asked, “Could they be mutants between lower and middle predators? Wouldn’t that be a problem? It would mean most predators in this forest are stronger than the Giants.”rFlt
I7tIuD“I don’t think so. Because it seemed like they used language. If they have any intelligence at all, they can’t be below middle predators.”RU7v8c
ekQ3Canis spoke up, “I see. Then the Giant we first encountered is in the top 30 percent. Although it’s not impossible for it to be in a different distribution.”KjdU
TZt4gE“Statistically, yes. In any case, there wouldn’t be many of them. Intuitively, I think the probability of encountering a stronger enemy than the Giants is less than 10 percent.”LuBwn
YI2cAmy summarized the situation, “Then it’s not a problem, right? If the six of us fight together, we can handle it. No one is hurt.”oASv9H3
EcHabShirone analyzed the situation carefully.FQqNM8
sfl9ZAmy’s optimistic view was valid, but in life-and-death situations, probabilities were merely illusions.9NL4byM
MF12nTThe fact that they had barely arrived in heaven an hour ago made it impossible to turn back. Although it was an irrational illusion, everyone must have known it to some extent.GVeGww
mpvUltimately, they didn’t want to go back yet. Even if greater dangers lay ahead.aC0Cv8
YCB“Okay, let’s at least get to the fortress. I don’t want to give up here either.”q2q
xfRAs they prepared to set off with their backpacks, a loud noise came from the forest.GYcPspJ
i0qvYxTess’s sharp ears picked up a woman’s voice.uYbW
JLREA sense of unease crossed their minds, feeling that it might be a more dangerous situation than a Giant attack. However, if it truly was a woman, it meant an intelligent being. The information they could glean from her would be invaluable.Xwcdx
Lam78zgSharing glances, Shirone’s group dashed into the forest as if on cue.0dF
6QcG***dxH
fDpYKxKiing! Kick! Kick!nWklbE
QmVA six-legged predatory creature, Dokgakgui, let out a rough cry.6B6k
g0RClThe Dokgakgui, a crustacean, moved by driving its six sharp, triangular legs into the ground. Its pale purple body was covered in a carapace, with a single large eye embedded in the center of its face. A long horn on its forehead looked even sturdier and longer than a unicorn’s horn.kDFMbbz
bhD5mS5“Rena! Drive it this way!”qMRQmLB
4LaY62g“Got it! Be careful, sister!”3v0OQp6
5FmUDVKanya and Rena surrounded the Dokgakgui from front and back.uO00MX
ZmccgUThe woman with long black hair down to her waist was Kanya, and the girl with big, pretty eyes was her younger sister, Rena.EzYuI
yzN8Sn6They were members of the Mecha tribe, denizens of heaven, known for their youthful appearances, characterized by slender jaws, small noses, and crescent-shaped thin lips.lLRhUiR
tonAlthough they were seventeen and fourteen years old, their faces made it hard to tell who was older.RD31
4L6YzoGRena, who had taken the rear, targeted the creature’s blind spot and swung her sword. The complex weapon, with countless intersecting lines on the blade, showed its remarkable effectiveness.XnO0
hdgflAs the blade struck the Dokgakgui’s back, a shockwave erupted with a bang, scattering carapace fragments.kzXr
Vh4zyxKThe Dokgakgui, hit for the third time, shrieked and moved sideways. Rena leaped in response.MmmKM9
3wQSAlthough the Dokgakgui’s single eye could cover a 330-degree field of vision, Rena stuck to its only 30-degree blind spot and struck again at its carapace.MdtyML
PvSAs the agitated Dokgakgui charged, Rena held out a small kite shield strapped to her wrist.NNn
zyMSThough it seemed like a toy, as the horn collided with it, a vision of a much larger shield emerged, repelling the Dokgakgui.0daZ
xx7cBbjThe flipped-over creature flailed its many legs like a beetle. It barely regained its balance but kept stumbling to the right, still reeling from the shock.BqH
Kf8DKanya aimed her arc.LVNGFE
jAdIt resembled a bow but was made of metal and had no string. Instead, it had a handle that, when pulled, emitted a red light from end to end, targeting the Dokgakgui.Wmng
50IGmAA weapon capable of triangulating and locking onto a target.2yN
yZUWith the sight calibrated, the projectile would not miss. Kanya aimed the red dot gathering at the Dokgakgui’s face.oaZ6n
vr1Sensing danger, the Dokgakgui moved side to side, but Kanya followed its movements.bH8d9w
tSWkjBGAs Rena vanished into its blind spot again, the frightened creature lunged at Kanya.ta5Q1R8
0rBHKanya released the handle, sending a small bead shooting from the arc’s center, piercing the creature’s eye and exploding inside.f2OTp
RMjRvThe Dokgakgui’s body jerked and collapsed to the ground.Iunqr4
joZGIts innards must have liquefied, but it still let out a chilling scream.5q1
mfhgRena, holding her sword in reverse, stabbed into a gap in its carapace. With a pop, the Dokgakgui’s body convulsed like salt sprinkled on it, then stopped moving.qz0V
kLmHWith the battle over, Kanya lowered her arc and wiped her sweat.LPrW
BjGXBZL“Whew, that was tough. This one was quite resilient, huh?”iCdrj
1ekK“Yeah. Are you okay, sister?”kNdq
Apb“As you can see, I’m fine. But it’s strange. Why did a Dokgakgui appear here? We’re far from its habitat.”dAGvFH
0GNl“Could we be lost?”o3v9vAD
5PnC“No way. The drone is pointing in the right direction. Maybe the forest’s laws have changed. Let’s get out of here quickly.”bD9IS
7V7Ns3“But we should collect the elixir, just in case.”3yuV
h0wdRena climbed onto the Dokgakgui’s body. She pried open its carapace and plunged her hand inside, feeling the hot, mushy innards.sPY
ibY51vMDespite the disgusting texture, Rena boldly wiggled her fingers until she felt something.1Qf
pzpHer eyes lit up with satisfaction after a while.fzZ
XBY“Hey, it’s here! Sis, we got it!”aEFT
RnaTMaA red-glowing bead emerged from the Dokgakgui’s body.Axhm
hNoKo“Yay! A Red Elixir. Thank you, Dokgakgui.”NKQGD
mXI8fWqSeeing her sister hopping around, Kanya smiled warmly.Q39VdW
eFYDjuMost creatures in Purgatory cultivated elixirs within their bodies. While divine protection rendered it unnecessary for Heaven’s citizens, it was the most important substance in Purgatory.n2tcFE
oXCNsic“That was lucky. Now, let’s hurry.”3hcQ1l
yAdwWkAs Kanya turned into a stern elder sister and urged her sister on, she felt a chilling presence behind her.6s6zKI
zgRqlrDEyes embedded in the forest glinted with murderous intent.o6Q0Lc
0ADMoments later, creatures with sharp legs emerged, tapping against the rocky ground.KVPGSqZ
eEmMore Dokgakgui, and seven of them.bJd0
hM9cRV5“Rena! Get over here!”ivRM
XqTgLTPulling her sister close, Kanya assumed a combat stance. Despite this, questions swirled in her mind.Kjmqb
QU6It was impossible for Dokgakgui, especially in groups, to appear so far from their habitat.6iw
DcD37‘Damn it. I should’ve kept checking the drone.’C4evK
DLi0yAEven in the so-called Hell Outside Heaven, divine will reached this place. Though mindless monsters, the forest’s laws acted like instincts. Thus, any event altering those instincts must have occurred nearby.auPX
3y3t“Why now…!”Cnbj6w5
6dAPSIt was rare for the forest’s laws to change. And it was nearly unheard of for Heaven’s citizens to venture into Purgatory.Vw3
HWckThe fact that these two unlikely events coincided added to her anxiety.qZsvSiQ
IIsmb“Sis, what do we do? There are too many Dokgakgui…”4HEy0cP
fSZ76lOne Mecha could handle one Dokgakgui. But with two, it required at least five Mechas.rZ4FRr0
qL0gvxFAccording to the laws, the Mechas’ strength lay in their group combat techniques.Y4A4iHC
zjOWhile physically the weakest among the divine beings, their coordinated efforts made even the Kergos or Nor tribes cautious.p5RQD
Wi7zPTcKanya’s fear stemmed from this. Even with her arc, defeating seven Dokgakgui was impossible.rGbxpd
UuKYWhat on earth was happening in this forest?HubC
m852RTDDespite spending a year scouting routes to avoid monsters, everything was now in vain.QHyesN8
2g22wQQKiing! Kick! Kick!FmmujdI
JXFAs the Dokgakgui menaced with their horns, the sisters stood back-to-back, protecting each other’s blind spots.V864Vx
BHyBhOne Dokgakgui, seemingly testing the waters, lunged at Rena.RLmjDR
FPntkvHolding up her shield, Exed, Rena repelled the creature with powerful recoil.GJQr
WIBCNtSwitching places with Rena, Kanya fired her arc. Unable to aim precisely, the projectile struck the carapace, causing an explosion.OorF1
PIAfKXAs the Dokgakgui rolled from the impact, the remaining creatures attacked.0tE
Gkh2p0“Sis! Hide behind me!”E4e
npHeRena switched positions again, holding up Exed. Each time a horn collided with the shield, it sounded like thunder.tfp9r
1ERW3Despite swinging her shockwave weapon, Sygna, hitting a Dokgakgui without exploiting its blind spot was challenging.S5JaoF
AexRUrOThe time she could withstand with Exed was decreasing. As it exceeded its recoil limit, the shield became a mere toy.khX
P1ZSWith seven Dokgakgui attacking from all sides, Kanya and Rena hugged each other and closed their eyes.Yp5IQH3
3gkdsMore than the fear of death, it was the dread of the pain before dying that terrified them.LeyP
p6BuGGDokgakgui impaled their victims and sucked out their innards. Kanya even considered using Rena’s Sygna to end her life quickly.u50aiQ
WTiFfAs seven Dokgakgui aimed their horns at the sisters, a bright light flashed from above, and a burst of light descended.KJO
4TQ0sIKanya and Rena saw the back of a boy. He had blond hair and wore strange clothes not seen in this world.KNvTKbW
YJOveMXShirone, upon landing, cast Wildfire.G8poQT
RpMA curtain of light oscillated between a radius of 3 to 5 meters, repelling all the Dokgakgui.xyq83
BuUSvAs the ground formed a circular depression, the two women fell to their knees. Their eyes fixed on Shirone. They had never heard of people living in the Forest of the Profane.IYIRk7
Ucy“Are you okay?”yB7sDQ
XjIShirone smiled as he turned his head.rllaOy
h1gJIMeeting someone in a world where returning home was impossible brought a joy incomparable to homesickness. No matter their origins, the disgusting monsters were enemies, and people were allies.BuvOfP
CQ3AZmKanya heightened her guard at the boy’s appearance. On the other hand, the teenage girl Rena blushed.DcM
UBptt0r‘He’s handsome. Is he a Nor?’oFoHtY
UpejbWhile the two women were lost in their thoughts, Shirone’s group was fiercely battling the Dokgakgui.tL8D
8XngqSFRian and Tess each took on one creature.WMhux
BUQyHaving exchanged a blow, Rian felt somewhat reassured. While not an easy opponent, such strength was not uncommon among the monsters he frequently encountered in his original world.gOf
N4jwztGrabbing the Dokgakgui’s horn, Rian overpowered it, causing its precarious six legs to flip over.drE
LCMmVHe drove his short sword into the creature’s abdomen, pinning it to the ground.qQdNQLO
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