When Ga Ga, worried about the safety of the herd, hurried back with dozens of tentacle Ga Ga Beasts, it found that the herd remained unchanged since before, except for being freshly cleaned by the rain. None had even shifted from their places on the ground. ==#

"Damn, it seems the thunderstorm didn't affect them at all. They're even lazier than me." (…)

"While we were out there slaving away, you all were lounging around. This calls for censure, strong censure. You must recognize your mistakes and correct them under my leadership…" Ga… Hoo… Ga… Boom…

And so, the hundreds of tentacle Ga Ga Beasts left to guard simply continued to laze around under Ga Ga's noisy scolding. (Tea—)

…

The establishment of the breeding points proceeded smoothly, so smoothly that Ga Ga found it boring. All that was needed was a good location and splitting off a hundred tentacle Ga Ga Beasts according to the herd's gender ratio. The only challenging part was clearing the surrounding area to ensure the new breeding point's safety.

But even this task, which Ga Ga could use as an excuse to stretch its muscles, seemed to have been preemptively handled by the Infernal Moths.

"It seems this area was their territory. Fighting fire with fire, not a bad tactic."

Another group of five Infernal Moths was nowhere to be found, temporarily ignored by Ga Ga. Reflecting on the situation, Ga Ga realized that with long-range attacks, the Infernal Moths would be defenseless.

Glancing toward the desert, Ga Ga noted that the breeding point was not far from the endless sands, prompting a change of course for the remaining herd.

… Breeding Point 2/10 …

"Have territorial instincts begun to appear in some higher predators?"

Enjoying the fresh air after rain and the azure skies, Ga Ga leisurely strolled along a steep cliff. (Hey, watch where you're going.)

Leaving the previous breeding point and turning southeast, the hills seemed to rise. Yet, Ga Ga's route remained within a radius centered on the electro-stone mine.

Over time, the seeker's ability revealed signs of mineral presence east and northeast of the initial mine.

Thus, Ga Ga planned to first establish five breeding points south of the electro-stone mine, evaluate after a breeding cycle, and then head north to find another mine for five more points.

"Keep some in reserve."

Currently, Ga Ga's herd was atop the large canyon formed by tectonic rifts. Walking the valley floor posed no immediate military ambush risk, yet the sunlit surface was far more pleasant than the shadowy depths. (A field trip, huh ==)

"After all, I'm not just rushing but searching for good breeding spots."

However, crossing a small hill, Ga Ga was shocked by the sight of over a hundred creatures resting in the plain beyond. These creatures had scythes for forelimbs, black armor, and exuded an air of savagery and slaughter.

After a brief pause, Ga Ga stepped back, signaling the herd not to cross the hill to avoid detection.

Raising its claws, Ga Ga compared its less than half-meter blades to the foes' massive scythes.

"Ugh…" Ga Ga began weighing its advantages and disadvantages.

Appearance-wise, these seemed to have evolved from giant beetles. "Of course, a single wildfire couldn't wipe out all the giant beetles, but how did they solve low oxygen issues while others shrank? These are as big as us."

Squashing a passing insect, Ga Ga stared gloomily at the distant creatures.

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Recalling the humiliating days trapped by a hunter beetle, Ga Ga felt no goodwill toward giant insects.

"Attack or leave?" A choice.

Realizing it could sense the emotions of its kin excited Ga Ga, leading to increasingly frequent psychic usage.

Familiarity bred expertise to the point that even unconsciously emitted psychic energy clearly reflected the other herd members' mental fluctuations toward the giant beetles. Compared to the memory bank's records, these feelings were neither killing intent nor fear—they were indifferent.

"…"

It left Ga Ga speechless. Here were over a hundred highly aggressive creatures, and even with 400+ tentacle Ga Ga Beasts, losses of dozens were likely.

But other herd members had a different view.

Seeing their side massed and the enemy sparse, they were certain victory lay with them. As for casualties, they felt nothing unless personally affected.

"Simple-minded, truly carefree."

Ga Ga wasn't the type to attack regardless of foe strength. If the gain from eradicating these creatures didn't outweigh the cost, Ga Ga would turn away, but…

Turning reluctantly northward, Ga Ga realized that crossing a few hills led directly to the electro-stone mine.

If starting south, this would be the initial territory.

Allowing the giant beetles to develop unchecked would inevitably clash with the northern or western territories (the south was a steep gorge, the east rising mountains).

Defense never felt as good as offense, so the choice was clear—attack.

After deciding the objective, how to achieve maximum gain with minimal loss remained.

Victory was simple: 400+ could swarm and trample most, but what losses would pre-death counters inflict? A key consideration for Ga Ga now.

"Combat data comparison."

"Ah, strategy and tactics, I truly dislike them. As one from a harmonious, peace-loving society, considering these species issues… sheesh!" (Stay kawaii ==)

Momentary madness over, Ga Ga resumed thinking.

"Know your enemy; since they haven't spotted us, let's observe a while (seems tracking Infernal Moths became a habit), not like they could multiply by hundreds overnight."

"…"

"Probably."

"Why do I feel less confident the longer I live?" (You know too much and will know more =.=)

With stable weather, occasional showers or clear skies, Ga Ga's four tentacles behind its head saved much effort maintaining body temperature.

Sometimes Ga Ga felt its tentacles fulfilled the thermostatic fan spine's role, even if less professionally.

A hundred beetles roved a vast domain; their cautious clearance seemed excessive. This land, twice the territory Ga Ga set for a hundred Beasts, might barely support sixty post-conquest.

"Damn, truly deserve extermination."

Now Ga Ga felt no remorse over driving off 60% of predators near the electro-stone mine. (Smug Light Scale Beasts chuckle silently.)

Deploying skilled psychic scouting, Ga Ga skirted beetle territory.

"No investigation, no right to speak—wise words, whoever said them."

The hundred beetles seemed disjointed, splitting into multiple groups.

"Seems no queen or king, saving me much effort, hehe."

Chuckling sinisterly, Ga Ga signaled a dozen tentacle Ga Ga Beasts to halt, cautiously approaching a trio of beetles devouring diced prey.

"Dining etiquette is terrible; we Ga Ga Beasts eat in careful bites. Unlike your hacking into chunks." (== You've no right to talk etiquette.)

Encircling them, wingless beetles posed little threat, despite their scanning the area with wide black-armored heads, compound eyes searching.

Ga Ga commanded stealth from the Beasts.

"Ready... Attack!"

Assigning four Beasts per beetle, reserving two to watch for ambushes—though unlikely from them.

Indeed, lacking such intelligence, these beetles relied solely on physical prowess and primal instincts as high predators. With little survival pressure, lacking primary consciousness, their brains developed minimally—having any brain was progress.

Realizing Ga Ga Beasts' approach, beetle brains confused, bodies instinctively swung scythes.

Dodging the scythe with electrified legs, Ga Ga clawed the beetle's darkly patterned armor.

"Tough!"

Barely scratching it, Ga Ga stepped back in shock.

"Ah!"

Mid-charge, a beetle leg Ga Ga mistook for a mere appendage kicked its chest.

"Such power!"

Tumbling like a ragdoll, dizzying Ga Ga crashed.

Yet a 3-on-1 siege saw a tail pierce the beetle's shell, elegant blue electricity sparking smoke.

The injured beetle shrieked painfully, its piercing wail maddening Ga Ga.

"Bad, more beetles are coming."

Painfully rising, Ga Ga circled, seeking opportunity to strike.

Having scythed two tentacles off a beast, the beetle readied another blow, but a tail strike drove it retreating.

Speed can’t outrun electricity.

Exploiting the stun, three Ga Ga Beasts responded quickly, tails unleashing in unison.

Finally, besieged, the beetle collapsed quaking.

[Double Scythe Beetle Hunt Task

Objective: Hunt five Double Scythe Beetles (1/5)

Reward: 200 (Evolution Points)

Sharp Scythe Component]

"Ugh, same rank, yet so tough." Four on one, left several tentacles and half a paw littering the ground.

Ga~~

The three Beasts triumphantly roared over the corpse, startling Ga Ga.

"Quiet!" A sharp order silenced them, turning Ga Ga's focus to the other fights. One beetle was dismembered completely, losing its jointed scythes to two beasts—its defeat imminent. The other fled blackened.

Catching was easy with upgraded speed, but Ga Ga recalled the pursuers. The sentry Beasts sounded alarm, signaling many beetles on the way, though out of Ga Ga’s psychic range.

Weaving through the woods, the tentacle Ga Ga Beasts evaded potential beetle pursuers, reaching the main herd unscathed.