Chapter 123
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 123
Chapter Title: Overflowing Rewards
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Enemy general! Repelled!
A worthy adversary.
If our matchups hadn't favored me, I might have been the one who got done in.
Its petrification didn't work properly on me, and it went berserk, turning into an impure being.
That's why my Evil-Slaying Beak and Shadow Flame could deal massive damage, letting me finish it off.
A cockatrice that used Command Roar and went berserk is clearly stronger than me.
Toppling such a powerhouse feels damn good.
Just beating it had made my power skyrocket—I could tell.
My level shot way up.
Last evolution needed level 25, so maybe just six more levels and I'll hit the next one.
Once I deal with Dabih and Vega, hitting 30 should be a breeze.
[Sub-quest completed.]
Plus, I cleared a sub-quest.
I had two in total.
And both had defeating the cockatrice as the clear condition.
【Cockatrice Hunt】
You've entered the Queen's Forest and uncovered the secret of Dabih and Vega.
Their power poses a huge threat to you. Your instincts tell you that if you don't deal with them now, you'll face them as powerful foes later.
You devise a plan to take down Dabih and Vega.
To counter their abilities, you need cockatrice parts.
The cockatrice is dangerous too, but with enough prep, you can beat it.
You prepare to hunt the cockatrice to defeat Dabih and Vega.
Quest Clear Reward: Cockatrice Feather
The first one: Cockatrice Hunt.
And the reward? A cockatrice feather!
But I'd already stolen one of its traits.
From past experience, there's a high chance it'd count as already claimed.
Quests are great and all, but this part sucks.
"Caw."
I was just smacking my beak in mild regret.
[Sub-quest reward granted.]
"Caw!"
I flapped my wings and screeched.
A feather glowing faintly rose from the dead cockatrice's corpse.
"Caw caw!"
What the heck? No way!
That stingy quest giving extra rewards?
Suspicious, but free is free—I won't say no.
In case it changed its mind, I scurried over and snatched the feather.
Now, its remaining traits...
Petrifying Evil Eye.
Fierce Poison Evil Eye.
Seeker of Wisdom.
All winners.
Evil Eye sounds badass and hits right in the chest—Seeker of Wisdom's cool too.
Plus, with Command Roar already mine, anything's a bonus.
Heart pounding, I equipped the green feather to my chest.
「Hundred Poisons Immunity」
Gain strong resistance to a hundred poisons.
Immune to poisons below a certain level; reduces effects of stronger ones.
Additionally, resistance to other status ailments increases rapidly.
"...Caw."
Right, it had this one too?
Thought it was all hits, but there's a dud.
Not terrible, though.
I'm resistant to its petrification, but not other poisons.
Its venom barely fazed me thanks to the Queen's Powder.
So yeah, I basically have zero poison defense—Hundred Poisons Immunity is exactly what I needed.
A bit underwhelming next to Evil Eye, but solid for building basics.
A safe everyday trait.
「Crow's Eye LV5」
「Bird's Wisdom LV2」
「Night Feather LV1」
「Shadow Flame LV2」
「Night Summoning LV1」
「Twilight Feather LV3」
「Afterglow Feather LV1」
「Evil-Slaying Beak」
「Glow」
「Shadow Form」
「Flexible Bones」
「Unyielding Flame of Revolution」
I stared at my status window.
Unless it's a special case like before, I usually equip traits like this.
Slot limits exist, but with Swungswung's help, it's basically unlimited.
Not perfect, though—we have to coordinate for optimal setups per situation.
Normally, I equip safe, versatile traits.
Hundred Poisons Immunity fits perfectly there.
Command Roar's owner trait is great too, but situational.
So, what to swap out?
Evil-Slaying Beak and Shadow Form are non-negotiable.
Glow too.
Glow + Shadow Form combo's still super useful.
Maybe... Unyielding Flame of Revolution for now?
「Unyielding Flame of Revolution」
If your will doesn't break, you can rise again.
This trait vanishes permanently after one use.
Using the trait turns your body red.
Stolen from Red Cape—a powerhouse for near-death revivals, like pseudo-resurrection. Better than anything else I have.
...Body turning red's kinda iffy.
Not everyday wear, though. Equip in life-or-death spots?
Best candidate to remove.
Can't drop Flexible Bones either, right?
...
Actually, Flexible Bones is the real pick.
Just for spinning my neck around.
But ditching it felt weirdly off.
"Craaaaw..."
Spinning my neck was a hobby—can't anymore?
Gotta level up and evolve fast.
Sorry, Flexible Bones.
I'll come back when slots increase.
One last nostalgic spin before equipping.
"Hic!"
The harpy eagle startled for some reason.
Swapped Flexible Bones for Hundred Poisons Immunity.
First quest reward sorted.
But I cleared two.
【Path of the Divine Beast】
A beast with intelligence hunting a cockatrice is one of the ancient traditions to ascend as a spirit beast.
Overcoming trials and felling a mighty foe will achieve your legend.
Achieving this legend enriches your myth.
Reward: Increased evolution choices
A sub-quest called Path of the Divine Beast, no less.
Clearing it by beating the cockatrice.
Reward: more evolution options.
Can't check yet without levels, but expect variety.
No kiwi birds this time—I earned it.
As I checked rewards, the others rushed up behind me.
"Y-You're okay? Hurt anywhere?"
The harpy eagle asked, glancing warily.
"Caw caw caw."
Hurt? Pfft.
Bone might be cracked, but no biggie.
"Kek... caw..."
"Kyaa! H-Hold still!"
"Caw caw."
Kidding.
Moona checked my color, then approached the fallen cockatrice.
"Hmm, bigger than we expected. It shrank after you reclaimed your power, yet still massive."
Yeah, huge corpse.
I could handle that weight now.
Eagles snag deer; I'm bigger, so cockatrice should be fine.
Problem: talons and flight.
Flight's tough now.
Dabih and Vega are raining.
Dragging's possible, but slow.
"Swung."
I eyed floating Swungswung.
"Swung?"
Can you?
"Shuuu..."
Swungswung looked troubled, then lightly sucked my cheek.
*Sluuurp.*
"Craaaw!"
What the—!
As I flapped, it zipped to the cockatrice.
"Caw?"
*Fwoosh!*
Swungswung expanded.
More precisely, the cloth stretched.
Soon cockatrice-sized, fully wrapping it.
"Swung!"
Cute grunt, and it shrank.
Bigger than before, but you'd never guess what's inside.
No way it fits!
Shadow Lace Queen must've boosted storage.
Feels like sub-space now.
Holds more than it looks.
"Swungswung..."
Looked kinda embarrassed.
How do you emote like that, cloth gremlin?
Minor commotion, but mission done.
Cockatrice down, two traits nabbed.
Evolution options up, levels soared.
Transport easy.
"Caw caw caw!"
Cheerful caw as I turned to the Queen's nest—
*Thud.*
Chin hit ground.
Misstep? Tripped suddenly.
Sleepiness crashed in.
"Caw... cawww..."
Swungswung, Moona, harpy eagle rushed over, eyes wide.
Poison? Nah, they're fine.
Just me—fatigue buildup.
"Caw... craaawww..."
Intense fight's toll?
Drowsiness overwhelming.
Trusty allies here—eyes shut fine.
Brave crow cry to say no worries.
"...Cheep."
That'll reassure 'em, right?