Based on what Pei Guang knew about True Stings, once these things hatched, they could reproduce endlessly. And judging by how bloated this one looked, it was clear its belly was full of eggs!
Pei Guang couldn't afford to wait a single second. He walked straight up to the True Sting. Argenti had assud Pei Guang was coming over to admire this charming creature with him, but what Pei Guang did next made his expression freeze.
Pei Guang pulled out a wooden sword and violently stabbed it. Just as Argenti was about to angrily question what Pei Guang was doing, he suddenly heard a sound from the bug—and the adorable creature before him instantly transford into a grotesque True Sting.
Argenti had seen many bizarre things across the universe. In a flash, he realized he'd been caught in an illusion: the cute creature had rely been a hallucination shaped by his own perception.
What he had actually been admiring was this hideous bug!
"Disgusting! Absolutely repulsive!"
As a devout follower of pure beauty, Argenti believed that both inner and outer beauty were worthy of praise. But for a creature to disguise itself as sothing adorable and use illusions to control others: how could such ugliness exist in the world?
Just as Argenti raised his spear to destroy this grotesque thing, he witnessed sothing that nearly took his breath away: in that sa mont, Pei Guang had already dismbered the True Sting and extracted its eggs, which he had cooked.
"Huh? What's wrong?"
Noticing Argenti's gaze, Pei Guang looked down at the roasted delicacy in his hand, which granted 1 max HP per day, and a look of understanding crossed his face.
"I get it. You've realized its beauty, haven't you? No worries! Everyone gets a share. Here, have one."
"?"
Before Argenti could even process what was happening, a roasted egg was shoved into his hand. He opened his mouth to speak, but then noticed sothing strange: this food, prepared by Pei Guang, was emitting a glow that ordinary food never had.
At the sa ti, his eyes and instincts told him: this was a truly perfect dish.
"Mr. Pei Guang~ As expected from soone with a deep understanding of pure beauty. I never imagined that a dish made from such a hideous creature could contain such an unusual kind of beauty. But this beauty... I don't even know how to describe it..."
Pei Guang: "Just like I said before: the beauty of strength is also beauty. This thing embodies that kind of beauty. It raises your max HP by one every day! Right now, it's the strongest item. The beauty of strength isn't just about who's stronger or weaker—it can also an what helps you or the group the most."
Argenti: "I see! I've learned sothing new!"
Originally, Argenti thought the beauty of strength was simply a matter of differing views on power. He hadn't expected it could be interpreted this way.
Pei Guang: "Since we've co this far, co on—try it out. I'm telling you, that 1 attribute is chef's kiss!"
Pei Guang handed Argenti another one of the roasted eggs. Though it looked ugly on the outside, the sll, like it had been infused with soul, was enticing. Argenti hesitated for a mont, then took a bite.
As soon as he did, he showed a surprised expression: "I didn't expect... the flavor to be so delicious. The blend of three tastes gives such a refreshing sensation... And I can really feel the strength you were talking about. Truly... it's so strong. But this kind of strength, acquired through external ans..."
While Argenti was deep in thought, March 7th was staring at the thing Pei Guang was handing her with a completely conflicted look.
Pei Guang: "March! Co on, eat it! It's tasty! And it boosts your stats."
"No way! That bug is so gross! It ca out of that! Eww!!! Just thinking about it gives the creeps!"
The roasted egg was black in color, maybe because even its soul had been grilled into it, but visually it wasn't that unpleasant. Still, just thinking of what a True Sting looked like made March 7th shudder.
March 7th: "Nope, no way! Even if it's delicious! Even if it boosts stats! I'm not eating a single bite!"
Stelle: "If you won't eat it, I will. Don't just think of it as a True Sting egg: just think of it as a regular egg Ah Guang cooked. I could even eat a True Sting if it's been through his kitchen."
Stelle grabbed one of the eggs Pei Guang had prepared and took a bite—only to almost throw up.
Watching Stelle gag, March 7th crossed her arms and smirked triumphantly: "And you said it was tasty? Look at you—it's obviously disgusting!"
Stelle: "It's not my fault! Ah Guang, what did you do? Why does it taste like a mix of bitterness and sourness? It's awful!"
Pei Guang: "Here, have another one."
Pei Guang handed Stelle another egg. The Savory Truefire had many great features—except the flavor wasn't consistent. But compared to last ti, this batch tasted much better.
As Stelle took a bite, she chewed while glancing over at March 7th: "This one's actually pretty good! Ooooh! I can feel myself getting stronger. So this is what 1 max HP feels like?"
If Stelle's HP could be quantified, she would have a base HP of 1291. Although this bite only increased her HP by less than a thousandth, she could still feel herself growing stronger.
Watching Stelle shudder at first and then grin with a mischievous smile, March 7th cautiously asked, "Are you sure it's fine?"
Stelle replied, "Of course it's fine. Besides, a lot of the at you eat didn't look great when it was alive either, right? But you still ate it. Don't judge by appearance: if it's edible, tasty, harmless, and even beneficial, why reject it?"
March 7th mumbled, "That's not the sa thing, it's just... never mind. Ah Guang! Give one!"
Pei Guang handed one over to March 7th, and as soon as she took a bite, her eyes widened.
Watching Stelle and March 7th's satisfied reactions, Pei Guang began thinking. Just now, that one True Sting had dropped seven eggs. One per person would be enough for today, but there wouldn't be enough if they wanted more tomorrow.
"Looks like we'll need to catch more~"
As Pei Guang was deep in thought, Argenti, having fully experienced the beauty of strength, turned to him. "Mr. Pei Guang! I've personally felt the beauty of strength you spoke of. It's truly intoxicating. Precisely because of that, I must strengthen my convictions! And to repay you for letting experience this unique beauty, if there's anything you need, just say the word."
"Hahaha! Nothing for now, but when we fight that giant bug, we'll need your strength."
Argenti responded, "Gladly. Oh, and I have one more question: about that song you sang earlier…"
Pei Guang: "Chi—cough cough! Just Because You're So Beautiful,' right? If you enjoy singing it, go ahead. No copyright issues here."
Pei Guang couldn't figure out how copyright enforcent from his old world would ever reach this one. If interdinsional copyright enforcent were actually possible, he might as well try using Disney's legal team to find a way ho.
After giving it so quick thought, Pei Guang took action.
Unfortunately, Dan Heng and Welt had already combed through the train once. Although they missed a few spots, Pei Guang only managed to find three that actually boosted stats.
Maybe his previous actions had been too ruthless, making the True Stings wary. No matter how he searched, no more of them were willing to co onto the train, lay eggs, and treat the passengers as prey.
After all, Pei Guang's brutal egg-harvesting spree probably registered as excessive even in the eyes of the True Stings. Plus, the train crew was simply too powerful: even brainless bugs knew better than to charge in blindly!
They could afford to wait—to let this giant True Sting slowly digest the train and everyone inside. From their perspective, Pei Guang and the others would eventually beco their nourishnt.
But when they peered through the windows and saw Pei Guang, the bugs noticed sothing terrifying: Pei Guang was looking right back at them.
They had assud Pei Guang's group were just slightly tougher prey. But the mont they locked eyes with him, every last one of the mindless bugs had a strange feeling: as though they were part of a swarm, with Pei Guang at the center.
If they could think, they'd probably laugh themselves to death. A bug… feeling like soone else is the hive mind? Then what were they? Rations? Canned food?
Inside the train's main hall, Welt noticed Pei Guang's expression and looked over. "Did you find sothing?"
Pei Guang: "So bugs outside the train are watching us, but it's not a big problem…"
Hiko turned to Pei Guang. "Do you have a good idea? Right now, the plan we've co up with is to overload the train's engine and ram it into the thing to make it vomit us out. But Ah Guang, do you have any better ideas?"
Hiko had considered using her satellite cannon, but its power was nowhere near that of the train's impact. Overloading the train and ramming it forward, even if it didn't get the train ejected, could at least blast it away, making it the best option so far.
Letting Dan Heng go out and stab it was also effective, but no one could guarantee there wouldn't be any unforeseen problems. His power could be reserved as a backup in case the overload plan failed.
But that was just her plan.
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