Chapter 114: The Priestess
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 114: The Priestess
The shock of the stunning sight lasted only a moment.
I could feel an unbelievably powerful internal energy.
The Jian Bird was a creature where two were one, and one was two.
Only now had it become complete.
...Though I wasn't sure if I could still call that thing a Jian Bird.
It flew with wings, so I guess Jian Bird was close enough.
"Kkeureuk..."
Despite its ridiculous appearance, it was an extremely dangerous opponent.
I couldn't let my guard down for a second.
My own condition wasn't great, either.
Whoosh.
The creature shot into the air.
Normally, diurnal birds have poor night vision.
That was likely why the Rakshasa Bird traveled with the fire-wielding Bifang.
But this thing wasn't fundamentally a bird.
Which meant the disadvantage of the dark environment was meaningless.
Swiiiiiish!
I heard a roar as the air was torn apart.
I quickly twisted my body to evade its attack.
Shreeeak!
But I couldn't dodge it completely.
It had two crests.
Twisting its body at a bizarre angle, it succeeded in slicing into me.
Spurt!
My Dragon Scales were torn open so easily, and blood flowed from the gash.
Drip.
Drip.
"Kkeureureuk!"
The Jian Bird let out a sickening roar.
I quickly tightened my Dragon Scales to stanch the bleeding.
That thing is strong.
Shockingly so.
Have I ever met an enemy that could tear through my Dragon Scales so easily?
Have I ever met an enemy faster than me?
No matter the opponent, I always had at least one advantage.
Even against stronger foes, I could exploit that advantage to seize victory.
But this Jian Bird possessed a strength that rendered all my past experiences meaningless.
It surpassed me in every aspect, and its unpredictability was a cut above.
On top of that, it was actively using its underlings.
A disgustingly large horde of beasts.
It would use them to draw my attention, then mercilessly slice me apart with that lightning-fast attack from before.
Like being soaked by a drizzle, my stamina would gradually drain away.
Eventually, I would collapse.
I couldn't picture a way to win against it.
Grind.
I clenched my teeth hard.
But giving up was not an option.
I had sworn never to run away again.
...And it wasn't like I could escape anyway.
Stay calm. The more dire the situation, the calmer you must be.
Use the best move you have.
If you're off by even an inch, you'll die.
Fwoosh!
I immediately pulled back, putting distance between myself and the Jian Bird.
In turn, this brought me closer to the swarming beasts.
"Kuaaaak!"
With a roar, I dove into the pack of beasts.
Crunch.
Thwack!
Smaaaash!
I crushed skulls with my forelegs and tore out throats with my teeth.
Swiiipe!
I swung my tail, splitting an opponent in two.
The battlefield was a scene of carnage.
I bit down as hard as I could, trying to replenish my stamina.
Splat!
Most of the enemies simply exploded, but there were still some scraps to salvage.
Chomp.
Chomp.
Gulp.
I chewed and swallowed unidentifiable parts.
This wouldn't be enough to level up.
Predation only took effect when my stomach was full.
But I could at least restore some of my stamina.
And so I fought frantically amidst the enemies.
My eyes remained fixed on the Jian Bird.
Whoooosh.
It took to the sky again.
Just as I expected, the Jian Bird was waiting for me to be distracted by the horde.
It would try to cut me down with another lightning-fast strike.
But I won't fall for it twice.
Kkudeudeuk.
I planted my feet firmly.
Ready to react to its incoming attack.
Shwiiiiik!
Here it comes.
Its speed was hard to follow even with my eyes, but I knew the attack was coming.
I had to burn all the resources I'd saved up and finish this in one blow.
Thump.
I kicked off a Terror Bird's head and leaped into the air.
This was the perfect position to dodge its blade-like crests and aim for its head.
I immediately spun my body and swung my tail in a wide arc.
Craaaaaack!
My tail whipped through the air with incredible speed.
Even the Jian Bird couldn't possibly escape this attack unscathed.
Spluuuurt!
Blood sprayed.
Not from the Jian Bird, but from my own body.
"Kirrrreuk!"
"Kieeeh!"
What just happened?
I was sure I had dodged its attack.
My eyes shot open as I checked the Jian Bird's condition.
They hadn't been hit by my attack.
They had released their grip on each other, allowing them to evade my tail.
And in that same instant, they had sliced me with their crests as they passed.
"Keoheok..."
I spat out a mouthful of blood.
The attack was so unorthodox I was left speechless.
A flying Dimetrodon was absurd enough, but to attack like this...
But I had no time to lament.
I'd been slammed to the ground by its attack, and the beasts were already rushing me.
"Kuaaaaaa!"
I moved like a madman, fighting a desperate battle against them.
I tore into my enemies frantically, trying to consume as many calories as possible.
Gnash.
Riiip!
Craaack!
But the amount of blood I was losing was far greater.
The longer the battle dragged on, the hazier my mind became.
I was so exhausted I couldn't even use Sprint, my most resource-efficient skill.
Thud.
Even when I swung my Dragon's Claws, the enemies no longer exploded in a single hit.
My body had lost its strength.
Kraaaang!
With each enemy attack, my black scales rained down.
"Keeeuh..."
I swung my disobedient arm, trying desperately to kill the enemy before me.
Thwack.
My arm was easily blocked.
Chomp!
I immediately sank my teeth into its neck.
The Megatherium collapsed, spewing blood, and its body naturally exploded.
Now, even dealing with a single grunt was taking too long.
My body grew more and more exhausted, yet I saw no sign of being able to reach the Jian Bird.
"Geuheok..."
I coughed up a handful of black blood.
My legs were trembling.
"Kirrrreuk!"
In that desperate situation, the Jian Bird's cry rang out again.
I limped, trying to dodge its attack, but it was no use.
Shwiiiiiiiiik!
A brutal attack, crossing its two crests to strike a single point.
If I tried to block that, my body would be sliced in two.
The only way for me to survive was to just take the hit.
Kra-koooom!
The overwhelming physical force sent me flying dozens of meters back.
Thump! Crack. Snap. Kraaang!
"Geueok..."
I only stopped when I slammed into a tree.
I pushed myself up with trembling arms.
"Kieeeeeek!"
As if on cue, dozens of beasts charged at me.
The pain hadn't even subsided, but I couldn't just stay still.
Thump.
Thud.
My knees hit the ground.
My body wouldn't obey.
My eyes weren't working properly either.
My bones were already shattered, and even my claws were broken.
"Ghhh..."
I had fallen right into their trap.
By blocking my ability to level up and overwhelming me with numbers, they left me with no options.
It would have been hard enough to escape from just the Jian Bird, but to set such an elaborate trap...
They must have really wanted me dead.
"Krrrr..."
As if I'd die so easily.
"Kuaaaak!"
I swung my tail and let out the loudest roar I could muster.
I can't die in a place like this.
There are those waiting for me.
If I die here, the Snake Queen will be in danger.
So will Old Man Honhwi.
The former King of Birds, too, and Chirpy will be in danger as well.
Grind.
I clenched my teeth.
I cannot die.
That would be an insult to the master who taught me.
Swish-Swish wouldn't want that.
[Your fourth believer, 【Ball Python LV25】, does not wish for your death.]
Tang Soyeong wouldn't be able to return home.
[Your third believer, 【Tang Soyeong】, feels an inexplicable anxiety.]
Tus would be sad.
[Your second believer, 【Anthracomartus LV30】, believes your defeat is impossible.]
Pus wouldn't believe it.
[Your first believer, 【Attercopus LV30】, believes in your victory.]
"Grrrr..."
Messages I hadn't seen in a long time.
Words sent from those united under Gaegaek.
The cheers of my precious people restore all my strength.
There's no way something so cinematic would happen.
If something like that were possible, then beings called gods must truly exist.
[A portion of the experience points gained by your believers is shared with you.]
...Right.
In a way, a Divine Beast could also be called a god.
[Your level has increased.]
[Your level has increased.]
[Your level has increased.]
[Your level has increased.]
Kwwaaaaang!
The beasts surrounding me were blown away at once.
My mind cleared.
All the fatigue that had built up vanished as if it were melting snow.
I've been given another chance.
A chance to kill these beasts and the Jian Bird, and get out of here.
However, that didn't change the fact that the situation was still desperate.
Dozens of beasts.
And the Jian Bird that moved as if two were one.
My body was back to normal, but escaping this demonic realm alone was still next to impossible.
"Krrrr..."
No.
I can do it.
[The Priestess, 【Nephila Jurassica LV30】, smiles at you.]
Nephila was showing me the same smile as before.
Her hand was on her chest, as if feeling her own racing heartbeat.
Of course, the her I was seeing now probably wasn't a physical entity.
Just like the Snake Queen, it was likely an illusion, something you might call an avatar body.
She hadn't evolved into an Arachne yet, after all.
Still, just having someone by my side was a comfort.
The Nephila I saw now wasn't alone.
Tus, Pus, Tang Soyeong, and Swish-Swish.
They were all with her.
Worried that their pathetic Divine Beast was getting beaten up somewhere, they had used all the divinity they had stored up to send her to me.
"Kirrrrrrrreuk!"
The Jian Bird was flustered by the sudden turn of events.
At its cry, the beasts gathered at a rapid pace.
So many gathered that it looked like a swarm of black ants.
The oncoming horde of beasts. And blocking their path, a single spider and a lizard.
The tide of battle had turned once again.
Nephila Jurassica raised a hand and tapped me lightly.
Even though we couldn't speak, I understood.
'You ready, lizard?'
She must have said something cliché like that.
I raised one of my legs in response.
I had only one thing to say.
'Of course, spider.'