Chapter 116: Because Their Opponent Was Me
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 116: Because Their Opponent Was Me
This scene.
It was all too familiar.
Beasts gathered like a swarm of ants.
And facing them were me and Nephila Jurassica.
“Gekgek.”
We’re specialists when it comes to dealing with ants.
I rose, planting my two feet on the ground.
[Using 「Reverse Scale LV1」.]
My body was fully recovered.
That meant I could now spam the skills I hadn't been able to use before.
But I couldn't just waste them recklessly.
I had to use them as efficiently as possible to defeat the Jian Bird.
[Temporarily acquiring 「Uprooting Heavens and Overpowering the World」.]
First, the ant hunt.
Krrrrrrrk.
The overwhelming internal energy erupting from my dantian crushed the enemies' bodies.
Kwagagagak.
Poof!
Those with low durability must have been deemed too fragile, as their bodies exploded from the pressure alone.
It probably didn't need to maintain that state since it had recovered.
Was it trying to drain my stamina again?
Or was there some reason it couldn't stop its minions' bodies from exploding?
The Jian Bird just watched me from a distance, same as before.
The only difference was that before, it had been its choice. Now, it had no other option.
It was controlling all of their movements.
I took a step forward.
Kuuung.
Craaaaaack!
The essence of the Dragon's Roar Stomp mixed with the aura of Uprooting Heavens and Overpowering the World.
A massive fissure formed, as if a dragon were parting the earth to swim through it.
Crack-crack-crack-crack.
The fissure in the earth spread out in dozens of directions.
But it didn't end there.
Hoo-eup.
KWAAAAANG!
An overwhelming aura surged up from the cracks in the ground.
“Kkieeee!”
“Kkeuek!”
POPOPOPOW!
The bodies of the enemies within the fissure's range exploded helplessly.
POPOPOW!
Terror Birds, Saber-toothed Tigers, Megatheriums.
Without exception, every single one of their bodies burst equally.
Putting them in that state to deny me experience points had turned out to be a bad move.
If not for that, I wouldn't have been able to annihilate them with an attack like this.
KWAAAAAANG!
POW!
I wiped out the entire ant swarm.
“Krrrrk…”
The Jian Bird stared at me with bewildered eyes.
It looked like it didn't want to believe that all of its numerous underlings were dead.
“Krrrr…”
It let out a low growl.
Now the numbers are a bit more even.
I met the eyes of Nephila Jurassica, who was floating in mid-air.
Nephila Jurassica smiled brightly, as always.
She might be an illusion without a physical form, but just having her by my side was a help.
Pabat!
After activating Sprint, I rushed toward the creature at high speed.
Startled for a moment by the lack of minions to draw my attention, the Jian Bird quickly assumed a combat stance.
For a spirit beast, it used some dirty tricks, but its power was by no means weak.
It was the very one that had given me a hard time and nearly driven me to my death.
It must have used its underlings to drain my stamina and secure a certain victory.
When it was just one, it just took a beating from me. Now that it has two heads, did its intelligence double too?
Vwoooom.
The Jian Bird flapped its steel combs wildly and flew into the air.
It would be incredibly difficult for me, on the ground, to attack the Jian Bird in the sky.
But no matter what it was, its essence was still two Dimetrodons.
Flying like that for a long time should be next to impossible.
The Jian Bird had to make a choice.
If it came down to the ground now, it would be attacked by me. Staying airborne like that for long would strain its body.
Therefore, it had only one option.
To attack first.
Swiiiiiish!
With a sound like tearing air, the Jian Bird flew toward me.
Its steel combs became sharp blades.
I've seen this three times already.
And on top of that, my body was fully recovered.
I won't fall for it again.
Krrrrk.
I tensed my hind legs.
Ready to dodge its attack and then smash its head with the Nine Yin White Bone Claw.
Swiiiiiiiiiish!
Here it comes.
Its blade.
Chwaaaaaak!
The Jian Bird's wings didn't graze me.
To be precise, the Jian Bird sensed my killing intent and changed its direction.
Kudangtang!
Naturally, the recoil sent the Jian Bird crashing into a large tree.
But it quickly recovered and went back on alert.
Honestly, I was a little surprised.
Even though my body had recovered, I had been helplessly beaten by its aerial attacks until now.
It would be normal to think I couldn't counter its attack.
Even if it thought I could, pulling back against an opponent it had consistently overwhelmed wouldn't be an easy choice.
The enemies I'd faced so far would have charged in without a second thought.
But this one's senses were sharp enough to make the judgment call to take a small loss to prevent a big one.
If it had come straight at me, its head would have been crushed by the Nine Yin White Bone Claw.
“Krrrrrrk!”
So, what choice would the Jian Bird make?
I could inflict heavy damage on it, but its overall combat power was probably still superior.
However, with its minions wiped out, it couldn't possibly think it could beat me without taking any damage itself.
Woooong.
The Jian Bird soared into the air once more.
Ssaek!
Is it going to charge again?
No, that can't be it.
Hwoong.
Hwoong.
I doubted my eyes.
The Jian Bird was flying at an incredible speed.
Its speed was overwhelming to begin with, hard to even follow with my eyes.
The only reason I could react was because I'd learned its timing by getting hit.
Sasasasak!
Afterimages of the Jian Bird appeared.
It realized that relying on speed alone had a high chance of being countered by me.
So it changed its strategy.
A strategy to prevent counterattacks by making it impossible to know where the attack was coming from.
The added, unnecessary movements would have lowered its attack power.
But even so, it was enough to deal a fatal blow to me.
I could see six Dimetrodons.
In other words, it looked like there were three Jian Birds.
A situation where I couldn't tell which one was real.
Since they were afterimages, not clones, using Wild Eyes would be meaningless.
Swiiiiiiiiiiish!
There was only one thing I could trust.
A translucent finger pointed to one of the three afterimages.
Chwaak!
Craaack!
Drip.
Blood flowed from my dragon scales.
And the same for the Jian Bird.
“Kkeueeeek!”
I smacked its head with my Dragon's Claws.
I couldn't put my full power into it because of the afterimages, but this was still a decent result.
I took a hit, and I landed a hit.
“Krrrrk!”
The Jian Bird, though in pain, soared into the air again.
Chwaaaaak!
This time, its speed increased even more.
At this rate, it would be straining its own body.
But that was probably better than getting hit by me.
Five afterimages.
It became much harder than before.
Even if I attacked, there was a high chance I'd swing at nothing.
Its attack power was higher than before, so letting it land a hit could be dangerous for me.
But I wouldn't back down.
I glared at the target Nephila pointed to.
Kkudeuk.
The moment I tensed my forelegs.
Chwaaaak!
A spiderweb was instantly sprayed out.
It wasn't enough to bind the Jian Bird, a creature worthy of being called a spirit beast, but it succeeded in startling it.
“Kkruk!”
As I rushed toward it, I met Nephila's eyes.
She shouldn't have a physical form, so how did she do that?
No, the Snake Queen showed something similar.
When she turned the Cockatrice to stone, she was also an illusion, not a physical being.
I don't know why, but it seems Nephila is in a similar situation to the Snake Queen back then.
…What does the reason or cause matter?
The important thing right now is that the spiderweb delayed the Jian Bird, even for a moment.
[Using 「Reverse Scale LV1」.]
[Temporarily acquiring 「Nine Yin White Bone Claw」.]
The strongest close-range skill I can use.
Chwaaaaaak!
I swung my five fingers toward its head.
Kwadedeuk!
Contrary to my expectations, its head didn't explode.
“Krrrrrrk!”
Because it blocked my attack.
To be precise, it crossed its two steel combs to block my wrist.
Its senses were truly exceptional.
If it hadn't blocked, its head would have burst. Even if it had blocked with its combs, the combs would have shattered.
It blocked my wrist, not my fingers, with the wide part of its combs.
Twak!
“Kkeueeeeeek!”
Of course, that didn't mean it was unharmed.
A large hole appeared in the Jian Bird's right shoulder.
A little disappointing, but this is still not bad.
Chwaaaang!
The Jian Bird immediately swung its two combs wildly.
Tadat!
I instantly pulled back to evade its counterattack.
The situation had become much more favorable.
Its speed is insane, but not enough to kill me in one blow.
The moment its attack reaches me, its speed inevitably has to slow down.
Therefore, I was able to create a pattern of trading one blow for another.
Now that it has a serious wound, the Jian Bird's speed and power will gradually decrease.
If things continue like this, I can definitely win.
Besides, I have Nephila's help.
“Krrrr…”
Just as it let out a low growl and prepared its next attack.
“Kkeueeeeeee!”
The Jian Bird let out a loud scream.
Tukwang!
The moment it flapped its two combs, a tremendous storm erupted.
Hwoooooooong!
Its internal energy suddenly surged.
This situation… I've experienced it before.
The overwhelming power the Dilophosaurus gained when it burned its Innate True Qi.
The Jian Bird was also burning its Innate True Qi.
“Kkeuaaaak!”
Swiiiiiiiiiiish!
I ducked immediately.
Kwajik.
Puhwak!
I couldn't completely dodge its attack.
A lot of blood poured from my shoulder.
“Krrrrrrrk!”
Perhaps because it was power gained by mortgaging its future, it became unreasonably fast.
It now moved at a speed where I couldn't even dare to think of counterattacking.
The Jian Bird's steel combs grew even harder.
The situation changed drastically.
Swiiiiiish!
It charged at me like a madman, and I had no choice but to rely on instinct, throwing my body around to focus on evasion.
Since I was literally relying on instinct, wounds kept piling up on my body.
Jureureuk.
My body grew tired at a rapid pace, making my recent level-up feel meaningless.
Swiiish!
Kwajijijik!
There was only one way to beat it.
Endure until it burns through all its Innate True Qi.
I kept throwing my body around.
To buy more time.
Twak!
“Keoheok…”
I coughed up dark red blood once again.
I was barely avoiding fatal wounds, but it wasn't easy.
“Krrrrrrrk!”
The Jian Bird attacked again without giving me a moment's rest.
Chwaaaak!
A deep gash opened on my right hind leg.
I kept running, limping.
Swiiish!
I threw my body to dodge again.
But with the ever-increasing wounds and the amount of blood I'd lost, the strength naturally left my legs.
The result was me crashing straight into the ground.
“Krararak!”
The Jian Bird flew at me.
If it hit me squarely, I would die instantly.
My stamina was extremely low right now.
And in my current state, I couldn't dodge that attack.
[Level has increased.]
That is, if my condition had stayed the same.
Before the creature could even sense something was wrong, a change occurred.
Chwararak!
Nephila's spiderweb, tied between the trees.
I wonder how many hits I took while secretly setting this up.
From the moment it started burning its Innate True Qi, I'd given up on a direct confrontation.
To be precise, I gave up on fighting it at its own game.
How could I beat a creature that was already faster than me in a contest of speed?
I know Nephila's spiderweb won't have a huge effect.
But her layered webs were enough to startle the Jian Bird.
On top of that, I even recovered using the experience points our wise mother had saved up.
The creature must feel wronged.
It would have no idea when we came up with such a plan.
Nephila and I can communicate without talking.
It's a bond we've had since I was a gecko; we know what the other is thinking just by looking at each other.
Kudangtang!
I quickly rushed at it.
And so, a one-on-one at close range was achieved.
Of course, now I was outmatched even at close range.
The Jian Bird was using its Innate True Qi, after all.
[Strong fire energy now imbues your blood.]
[Strong cold energy now imbues your blood.]
Hwarereuk.
A cold fire.
A contradictory aura enveloped my entire body.
“Krrrrrrk!”
The Jian Bird, its skin touching mine, let out a pained groan.
Even so, it immediately moved and swung its combs.
Kwajik!
My dragon scale, struck by its attack, fell off.
And from that spot, blood flowed once more.
Hwarererereuk!
“Kkeueueuk!”
Jjeoooong!
Pressuring it with the now stronger cold and fire energy, I smacked its head with my Dragon's Claws.
Kwajik!
Jjeoooong!
Kwadedeuk!
Jjeong!
As if by agreement, we were trading blows one after another.
Each time I was hit by its attacks, the fire and cold energy grew fiercer.
But it still showed no signs of collapsing.
“Kkeuk… kkeuheuk…”
The Jian Bird probably didn't doubt its victory.
It had become a mud fight, but it still had the upper hand.
Which was only natural, since it was using its Innate True Qi.
[Level has increased.]
Well, I'll use mine too.
Not Innate True Qi, but the clean experience points gathered by our believers.
To be precise, the experience points the Priestess of Gaegaek saved up while playing the part of a wise mother.
“Kkeureuk…?”
The Jian Bird wore an expression of disbelief.
After seeing a dying lizard come back to life several times, it now looked terrified.
Jjeoooong!
Kwajijik!
[Level has increased.]
The Jian Bird's face grew paler and paler, as if it had seen a ghost.
“Kkruk, kkeueuk…”
Jjeong!
Kwadedeuk!
Hwarereuk…
“Kkeua, krrrrrrrk!”
[Level has increased.]
Peok.
Kwadedeudeduk!
Udeudeuk.
Jjeoooong!
“Kkeu, kkeu…”
The Jian Bird's attacks grew weaker and weaker.
It was only natural, as its stamina was continuously draining.
On the other hand, my attacks kept getting stronger.
I was constantly recovering my health, and I was also getting slightly stronger with each level-up.
[Level has increased.]
Tuk.
The Jian Bird's attacks reached a point where they could no longer be called attacks.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call them meaningless gestures.
As if it had lost its mind completely, one of the heads had even stopped using its steel comb.
It was about time to finish this.
Just then.
“Kkrak, krararak!”
One of the heads shrieked in terror, and the Jian Bird's fusion came undone.
A new tactic?
It might have a hidden card, so I backed away just in case.
“Krrrrrrk!”
The Dimetrodon with the severed arm swung its tail.
That is, not at me, but at the other Dimetrodon.
“Kkruk? Krrrrrrk!”
It had abandoned its companion to survive.
But both were already injured.
The fleeing Dimetrodon was caught by the tail.
By the very Dimetrodon it had pushed away.
“Krrrrk!”
“Krarak!”
Just a moment ago they were embracing each other, and now the two halves of the Jian Bird began to fight, splattering each other's blood.
[Using 「Reverse Scale LV1」.]
They were my enemies, but seeing such a sight made me feel strange.
[Temporarily acquiring 「Nine Yin White Bone Claw」.]
Jjeoooooooooong!
I struck down with enough force to gouge the earth.
“Kkruk…”
“Kkeuu…”
They were so vicious, they kept fighting each other even as their last breaths faded.
Blaming each other until the very end.
…What's the point of blaming each other?
Their opponent was me, after all.
Still, I can kind of understand.
Seeing Gomodo-Lania endlessly resurrect no matter how many times you kill it, you can't help but want to blame someone.
I exchanged a look with Nephila.
‘I've used up all the experience points I saved.’
That was the look on her face.
…Those Jian Bird fellows, if they had kept fighting without blaming each other, they wouldn't have known.
Since they died without knowing that fact, could you call it a peaceful death?
“Gegegek!”
I stepped on their bodies and let out a great roar.
Having defeated a powerful foe, a fitting reward must be waiting for me.
First, their inner cores, and…
[Level has increased.]
[Level has increased.]
[Level has increased.]
[Level has increased.]
…….
This overwhelming flood of level-up messages