The captain of the ship reached out.

Chapter 10 The Last Piece of the Puzzle

Trying won't kill you.

Horn acted on his ideas.

A group of tentacled mushrooms, carrying several magic cores and a living [Mud Monster], hopped and skipped towards the fungal carpet.

If explorers were to see this bizarre scene, they would be utterly astonished.

Unfortunately, this is a remote and secluded island, where only monsters can serve as spectators.

After feeding the magic core to the creep.

Horn's clones arrived in front of the Mud Monster.

"...Gurgle?"

The Mud Monster's beady green eyes stared at the unusual tentacle monster in front of it, and its body couldn't help but tremble.

Horn's split body has grown much larger than before.

When the tentacles are retracted, their size is about the same as that of an adult human.

Body shape is not the key factor.

The key point is that the Mud Monster sensed a deep-seated fear from the grotesque, purplish-black mass.

It felt as if something more terrifying than death was about to happen.

"Little Mud, go in peace!"

Horn didn't care what the Mud Monster thought, and several tentacles directly pierced into its body.

[Genetic integration initiated!]

Assimilation in progress...

About five or six minutes later.

[The current monster "Mud Monster" and the "Unified Formation" have too large a genetic difference, resulting in assimilation failure!]

"So it really didn't work..."

Horn had anticipated this, so he wasn't too disappointed.

It seems that simply being a soft-bodied monster isn't enough; a higher degree of similarity at the genetic level is also needed.

After the assimilation failed, the "mud monster" went silent and passed away peacefully.

The tentacles groped around in the mud for a while and quickly found the location of the magic core.

Dig it out and put it into the fungal carpet.

Horn is just waiting to reap the experience points and skills.

But suddenly.

"roar--!!!"

A very long roar came from the direction of the center of the island.

Immediately, another chirping sound rang out in response.

To confront the former head-on.

The two voices contained an indescribable pressure, causing the many monsters in the swamp to freeze in place, not daring to move an inch.

Only Tam, deep in the swamp, slowly poked half his head out, warily gazing towards the center of the island.

What kind of monster's roar is that?

Horn was also taken aback and turned to look.

In the distance, the hazy sky suddenly lit up with dazzling light.

Two terrifying magical energies, one red and one blue, collided violently, unleashing a torrent of chaotic energy that rained down on the island like a meteor shower.

Clearly, this is a battle between two powerful monsters!

He's at least a Sequence A rank guy, or even...

S-rank!

Fortunately, the battle came and went quickly.

Ten minutes later, the strange phenomenon in the sky returned to normal.

The swamp forest has returned to its usual liveliness, but the monsters' movements are subtly more restrained.

"Those two monsters are really strong!"

Horn was somewhat amazed.

Unlike other monsters, he felt no fear; instead, he felt an even stronger fighting spirit.

With his talent for genetic integration, he will one day be able to reach that level.

What was that phrase called again?

By the way, he can be replaced!

But before that, we still need to achieve our small goal of becoming the tyrant of the swamp!

[Genetic integration initiated!]

[Analysis of the "Mud Monster" Corpse!]

[Experience points +4!]

[Gained skill: Mud Jet Lv1!]

[Experience points +5!]

【…】

[Level: Two (Lv23→Lv24!)]

The magic core of the [Mud Monster] gave a generous amount of experience, which helped Horn level up.

All three basic attributes have been improved to some extent.

Horn wriggled his body, feeling the strengthened tentacles, and murmured to himself.

"We've got the last piece of the puzzle to conquer the Vulture Poison Bees. It's time to put the all-out attack on their lair on the agenda."

……

……

"Hey! Mike? Mike!"

Sailor Ivan called out several times before Little Mike finally snapped out of his daze.

"W-What's wrong?"

"You're asking what's wrong?"

Evan frowned: "You've been spacing out a lot while working these past few days. If the first mate sees you like that, he'll definitely give you another beating."

Mike lowered his head: "Sorry..."

"Well, just be careful yourself. Mr. David asked me to help in the kitchen."

Evan was also a low-ranking sailor on the Golden Sun, with a similar status to Mike, which is why he received some special care.

It's like they're sticking together for warmth.

After Evan left, Mike quickly said to himself.

"Sorry, Brother Mushroom, I was talking to someone else!"

"It's alright. Compared to this, is the mental connection... still... stable...?"

The voice in my mind was intermittent and echoed.

Mike had no choice but to reply, "Brother Mushroom, things aren't very stable anymore."

"Received...received...received..."

The same sentiment was received by Horn.

He was using Mike to test the scope and stability of his "mental connection".

The result was a mixed bag.

This spiritual connection is like a Wi-Fi signal.

The closer you are to the mushroom-shaped cabin, the stronger the signal and the smoother the communication.

Currently, as long as Mike is in the lower deck, the connections are generally not broken, but if he goes up to the upper deck, communication will be a matter of luck.

"Hello!"

Footsteps and a rude greeting came from behind.

"You brat, you dare to slack off here? You're asking for a beating again, aren't you?"

Hansen, with a thick beard and a scar on his left cheek, glared at Mike and made a move to hit him.

He reeked of alcohol and was clearly half-drunk.

Sailors have a long-standing habit of using alcohol instead of fresh water to extend its shelf life.

In the past, when Captain Ronan was in charge, drinking alcohol during the day was strictly prohibited.

But as soon as Barzel took office, he abolished this commandment.

Mike shrank back, bracing himself for a beating, but his eyes remained fixed on Hansen.

He wanted to gather as much information as possible about the enemy as possible for Brother Mushroom!

That way, there will be a chance to take revenge later.

Hansen was taken aback when he saw the slightly fierce look in those eyes.

Has this brat changed his ways today?

How dare you look at me like that?

Immediately, an inexplicable anger welled up in the first mate's heart.

You're just a lowly sailor, someone no one would care if you were beaten to death. You dare to glare at me?

In fact, Hansen also rose through the ranks from the bottom of the sailor class.

Rather, it is precisely because of this that he is exceptionally harsh on Mike and finds Mike's gaze at this moment even more unbearable.

"I'll beat you to death today!"

Hansen was about to vent his anger.

Clang! Clang! Clang...

A sudden, urgent alarm bell rang out on the deck of the Golden Sun.

That was the bell the captain used to summon the entire crew.

"You're lucky this time!"

Hansen glared angrily at Mike, but knowing the urgency of the matter, he quickly walked towards the deck.

Whew, that was close...

Mike let out a soft breath and quickly climbed onto the deck as well.

"Look over there!"

Following the gazes of the others, Little Mike looked towards the sea shrouded in mist.

In the dim light of dawn, the outline of an island gradually became clearer as it approached.