Time flew by. (This guy actually grew wings, damn it.)

When Ga Ga finally stood beneath the sprawling mountain range, the once three hundred-strong group had dwindled to just over a hundred.

"But, we finally made it out."

"What a journey..."

After the sandstorm, Ga Ga continued to lead the remaining tentacle Ga Ga Beasts on their journey. The sandworm relentlessly pursued them, but only targeted isolated Beasts. After several failed counters and desperate escapes, Ga Ga learned its lesson and ignored the sandworm's pursuit, keeping the herd tightly clustered as they pressed toward their destination.

Finally, the mountains loomed before them, and the sandworm, seemingly uncomfortable with the hilly terrain, vanished into the sandstorm's dust.

"Damn it!" Ga Ga despaired, watching the sandworm's pale yellow tail recede into the desert.

"Is this the power of a legendary creature?"

"It seems, even with the goal of developing the herd, individual strength cannot be overlooked."

"Our electric attacks only cause the legendary creature pain, without the capacity to kill or even paralyze it. Our energy is insufficient."

"The original civilizations were forced by their environment to develop for survival, but..."

"As the primary consciousness, I'm not just an ordinary herd member. A species with a primary consciousness differs from native species from the start; I can guide them to proactively develop civilization once they secure a stable survival environment using their physical traits."

Looking at the two hundred-plus upright predators around—over three meters tall, with strong physiques—Ga Ga felt a mixture of pride and humility. They weren't weak; they only ran when faced with the legendary creature.

"Are legendary creatures so insurmountable?"

"So chaotic... Clearly, grasping insights isn't my forte. I should clear my thoughts before considering this again."

Shaking its head, Ga Ga acknowledged the lingering intimidation from the sandworm—after all, it had been killed by it once, then pursued relentlessly.

"But speaking of it, why did the sandworm never attack the herd directly, only targeting isolated tentacle Ga Ga Beasts? If it ambushed the herd from beneath the sand, we'd have no defense."

"All that time in the desert, and not once did the herd face a sandworm attack, though bold predator groups harassed us a few times."

"Wait," Ga Ga paused, "does that mean a cohesive herd isn’t targeted by the sandworm? Or does it perceive the herd as a giant, equal entity?"

"I never saw eyes on it; maybe its other senses misjudged."

"If that's the case, I really overreacted before. At least keeping the herd together paid off."

With one last glance at the endless desert, Ga Ga refocused. "We've made it out. Now to find the electro-stone mine, establish a breeding point, then return to the biological editing space for some well-deserved rest with 8051. The biological world is exhausting."

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"Hopefully, reaching civilization will ease that."

Closing its eyes, Ga Ga consolidated its ten-meter range psychic power and released a slight electric charge, enhancing its senses across the board.

This strategy couldn't last long but was highly effective for boosting perception.

"It's close!"

Opening its eyes, Ga Ga focused on a distant... well, a mountain.

Height descriptions eluded Ga Ga's primitive understanding, though it noted, "It's somewhat high, probably a few hundred meters." Between Ga Ga and this mountain lay a few hills.

"So, we've crossed the desert, no snow mountains, but hills remain. We really did make a long trek."

Once again, a call gathered the remaining tentacle Ga Ga Beasts, forming three squads ahead. Though they didn’t know reconnaissance, their presence at the front served as scouts.

Ga Ga, however, couldn't lead personally. Beyond self-preservation, it reflected a social animal's weakness; if the leader fell, chaos ensued. The tentacle Ga Ga Beasts, led by the primary consciousness, were especially susceptible.

After Ga Ga's death, the entire herd merely adhered to the last order to press forward.

"This is the give and take."

…

Leaving the barren desert behind, they entered the verdant hills, breathing in the plant-scented, humid air—a sign that their destination neared.

"Weren’t we attacked by animals?"

Perhaps intimidated by the large herd, twenty or so tentacle Ga Ga Beasts advanced without incident. Since entering the hills, no battles occurred, only weaving through sparse forests.

With the sandworm gone and the herd refreshed from prior foraging, Ga Ga drove them forward, unaware the dense trees were slowly eroding their numerical advantage.

"Never enter a forest unaware."

An ancient military axiom disregarded by Ga Ga; its path led straight to its goal, surrounded by plant life, with no clear path.

Initially cautious after surviving so long, Ga Ga, seeing the animals avoiding them and no dangerous plants appearing within the herd’s range, barreled forward heedlessly.

※※※

Five tentacle Ga Ga Beasts found themselves separated from the herd by trees but pressed on toward the mountain ahead.

The leading Beast sensed danger, halting to block its comrades.

As other Beasts caught up, tension spread; they clustered, wary of their surroundings, eyes on a nearby thicket.

A gentle breeze rustled the grass and trees; the Beasts edged closer until a bug emerged.

It looked like a larva, but girthy as a tentacle Ga Ga Beast's leg, its size defied the term "larva," yet posed no apparent threat.

Puzzled by the harmless worm, the Beasts questioned their earlier sense of danger.

The wind continued, a faint aroma wafting from the worm.

Sniffing the air, the Beasts resumed their gaze on the worm sliding past.

Ga!

Perhaps vexed by the oddity, one Beast flicked its tail, the tip's spike piercing the worm, shattering it.

Bang!

The explosion's force stunned the Beasts, as a thick scent filled the air. Dizzy, they staggered, one by one collapsing unconscious. (The poison was potent!)

An unsettling rustle followed, more worms emerged from the thicket, smothering the downed Beasts, drawing nutrients liquefying from the poison.

Sated, the worms crawled away, scale-trees wrapping silk around themselves by nightfall. (Indeed, larvae.)

Before the first Beast crushed the worm, Ga Ga led the herd over a few hills, nearing the sensed mountain.

[Infernal Moth Hunt Mission

Objective: Hunt 5 Infernal Moths (0/5)

Reward: 200 (Evolution Points)

Pupation Component]

"Hmm?"

The sudden mission caught Ga Ga's attention, halting to scan for threats but finding none.

"Infernal Moths? Hunt five? Yet no mission triggered upon defeating one?"

Remembering past tasks mysteriously completed by comrades, Ga Ga thought of the other tentacle Ga Ga Beasts.

"Pupation Component? From larva to moth—did one kill a larva starting this mission?"

"Did some Beast rush ahead and accidentally step on one? Haha." Ga Ga inspected its feet, seeing only dirt, confirming it wasn't responsible. "Gather."

Once the herd regrouped, with no more Beasts emerging from the woods, Ga Ga noted the forest's interference while tallying numbers.

"Some are missing."

"Seems it's not so simple." Ga Ga, cautious, faced the herd by a small tree, consolidating the Beasts.

Letting them rest, Ga Ga led a search party back, soon finding the battlefield, only skeletal remains draped in thin-scaled skin.

"Damn, too late." Continuing the search yielded nothing, forcing Ga Ga to return to the herd.

"It's here."

Beyond a nearby hill, past several groves, lay the exposed electro-stone mine, its speckled grey-white surface beckoning irresistibly from the mountainside.

"Now to establish a breeding point around, then investigate this Infernal Moth issue carefully."

"Perhaps consider upgrades and splitting the herd." (Stretching lazily.)

"But first, clear the area. A stable breeding ground requires eliminating threats—Infernal Moths, Ga Ga."