Chapter 129: The Husband-Thief
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 129: The Husband-Thief
“Kyaaaak!”
The Rakshasa Bird screamed.
The power of Gaegaek Death Beam LV5 was incomparably stronger than before.
And that was with my miniaturization deactivated, with gigantification applied on top of it.
Naturally, the size of my mouth had grown, and the power of the Gaegaek Death Beam was bound to increase with it.
On top of that, I had the advantage of a surprise attack.
The creature had also taken on a human form, not its bird form.
In other words, I had unleashed my strongest attack when it was at its most vulnerable.
According to the calculations of my brilliant lizard brain, that attack should have split it back into Rakshasa & Bird.
“Again, again! This crazy lizard!”
But the creature was fine.
No, let me correct that. It wasn’t fine.
The moment the Gaegaek Death Beam hit, a large hole was definitely blown through its abdomen.
Compared to the size of the beam, it was a small wound.
But it was a fatal injury that could have ended its life at any moment.
However, the Rakshasa Bird did not die.
The dark, blackish tissue that had been on its left arm.
The same substance began to fill the hole, and the flesh quickly regenerated.
The Rakshasa Bird didn't have this kind of ability.
If it did, the Snake Queen would have told me.
My plan to one-shot it with the Gaegaek Death Beam had failed.
But that was no reason to stop.
Fwip-fwip-fwip!
I charged toward it at high speed.
I leaped as if flying through the sky and immediately swung both my arms.
Whoooosh.
“Isn’t this a crazy lizard!”
I crossed my Dragon’s Claws at a single point to maximize their power.
At my current size, the Dragon’s Claws would have a destructive force that rivaled the Nine Yin White Bone Claw.
Meaning, if I could just land a hit, I could shatter its head.
Kwwaaaaang!
The Rakshasa Bird barely dodged my attack.
My hands, having sliced through empty air, struck the ground.
Craaaaaack!
A vibration so powerful it felt as if the very heavens and earth were shifting erupted.
Ruuuuuumble….
It had survived the Gaegaek Death Beam and even dodged the Dragon’s Claws.
But I had no intention of stopping here.
The moment I recognized it had thrown its body aside to evade the attack, I spun around rapidly.
Whoooosh!
My tail whipped around like a lash.
Paaaaang!
Crack!
“Kyaaaak!”
It struck the Rakshasa Bird’s left shoulder with perfect accuracy.
My momentum was building.
I used Uprooting Heavens and Overpowering the World.
Kuguguguk….
With my immense internal energy, I sealed the Rakshasa Bird’s movements.
“This is so fucking unfair!”
It was understandable that it couldn't get its bearings from the continuous onslaught, but it seemed to be trying to mount some sort of counterattack.
It hastily transformed its arms into wings and fired a volley of black feathers at me.
It was the best it could do while immobilized.
I couldn't maintain Uprooting Heavens and Overpowering the World while dodging that attack.
I focused my mind.
Those feathers were dangerous.
A few of them possessed enough power to pierce through my gigantified scales.
I would parry what I could and dodge what I must.
Tang!
Skraak!
Crunch!
“You insane lizard!”
The Rakshasa Bird swung its left wing.
It was like the swing of a sword.
If that hit me, I would also suffer a serious injury.
Dragon Scale Transformation.
Chajajajak.
I sacrificed the sharpness of my dragon scales to increase their thickness.
I now looked as if I were wearing heavy armor.
It was the optimal form for receiving its attack.
I raised one arm and blocked its strike.
Kwagagagak.
The moment its attack was blocked, the Rakshasa Bird swung its other hand.
Taaaaang!
But it couldn't penetrate my scales, which were focused on defense.
“You’re disgustingly tough!”
Chajajajak!
Feathers shot out at incredible speed.
I dodged what I could and blocked what I had to.
As it attacked, the creature retreated backward.
“…Did you really kill the Jian Bird?”
It catches on quick.
“Hah, I don’t want to fight you, so why do you keep doing this?”
What was that supposed to mean?
Before it could run its mouth again, I decided to fire another Gaegaek Death Beam.
Sssssss….
Jjeeeeeeeong!
A blue beam, filled with my internal energy, shot forth.
The Rakshasa Bird moved hastily, but it couldn't dodge completely.
Chiiiiik….
Its right wing literally evaporated.
“Kiyaaak! No, this bastard, really!”
But that, too, was only for a moment.
Skin that looked almost necrotic sprouted from its severed arm.
“Still don’t get the situation? I’m telling you, you can’t kill me.”
It was certainly tougher than I thought.
“And please, just listen to me! I said I don’t want to fight you!”
The reason I ignored its words and kept pressing the attack.
It was because I could see it was planning to do something with that silver tongue of its.
Besides, the plan from the start was to finish one of them off in a swift battle and then attack together.
But the Rakshasa Bird was tougher than I expected.
It had taken two Gaegaek Death Beams and was still fine.
And that was despite me being stronger than before.
This couldn't be a normal phenomenon.
It must have temporarily enhanced its power for some reason.
If I pretended to play along, I had a feeling it would spill its secrets like some third-rate villain.
Since I had no immediate solution, I might as well hear what it had to say.
Besides, I had a history of breaking free from the Human-faced Bird's brainwashing, so if it tried any funny business, I could just attack immediately.
“…Right. You don’t seem to be a completely stupid lizard.”
“Gek.”
“Listen, why don’t you join our side, even now?”
Sssssss….
“Wait, wait!”
The Rakshasa Bird flapped its wing-arms in a panic.
“The Snake Queen can’t beat our king anyway! You know that too, don’t you?”
It acted as if it were stating an obvious fact.
And it wasわざわざ telling me, its enemy.
I grew curious about its intentions.
Was it just trying to mess with my head by running its mouth?
I decided to be patient and stay quiet for a moment.
Seeing how excited it was that I was listening, there was a high chance it would spill some information.
“Think about it. We knew long ago that you met the previous King of Birds. And I was able to heal my severed arm immediately. We waited for you in this state, even though it would have been far more advantageous for us to strike first.”
If our plan had gone as intended, the Rakshasa Bird should have been injured.
It couldn't possibly recover faster than Argentavis, who used the unicorn's horn.
My plan to quickly take care of the Rakshasa Bird was also based on the assumption that it was wounded.
But the creature was perfectly fine.
No, it was even stronger than before.
“Good. You’re finally thinking. Listen here, you big lizard. How about coming over to our side, even now?”
A suggestion to surrender.
It was a ridiculous notion.
Who would offer surrender in this situation, and who would accept it?
If their side had the advantage as it claimed, there would be no reason to do this.
“‘There would be no reason to do this.’ That’s what you’re thinking, right?”
The corners of the Rakshasa Bird’s mouth curled up.
“There is a reason. It’s because we need you.”
The Rakshasa Bird looked at me with seductive eyes.
“The King of Birds is stronger than the Snake Queen to begin with. If he had attacked earlier, he would have killed her and then some.”
I knew that was a bluff.
The reason the King of Birds hadn't moved was because he was being kept in check by other powers.
“The King of Birds doesn’t want a simple victory. He wants to make the Snake Queen submit completely.”
Just as I was about to dismiss it as nonsense and attack, I recalled the strange behavior the birds had shown until now.
There were certainly some unnatural aspects.
What if the King of Birds himself had come during the attack at the lake?
The fact that it was night and hard to fly wouldn't have been a major issue with Bifang around.
If the Jian Bird and the Rakshasa Bird had been together in the trap they set for me, I wouldn't have been able to resist.
If Bifang and the King of Birds joined forces, the Snake Queen would have been defeated.
The King of Birds couldn't have acted that way just because he was a birdbrain.
He must have had his own reasons and intentions.
“And for that, we need you.”
Was it telling me to betray the Snake Queen?
What a laughable idea.
“It’s a good offer for you, too.”
The Rakshasa Bird licked its lips.
“We can tumble around wildly in front of that queen bitch…”
This crazy birdbrain.
Jjeeeeeong!
A blue beam struck the Rakshasa Bird directly in the head.
Kwwaaaaang!
“Keuk… You really don’t listen, do you!”
The Rakshasa Bird’s body seemed to melt for a moment, then it cast aside its pretty face and assumed its giant bird form.
“Hah. I was trying to make things easy. Even if I can’t beat you, I can hold out until the King of Birds wins, you know?”
Tupapapat!
Whoooosh!
Hundreds of feathers were fired continuously.
Tatatang!
I protected my head and endured its attacks.
“Right. It seems this form is more to your taste, isn't it? I’ll tumble with you intensely until the Snake Queen wails!”
The Rakshasa Bird spouted horrifying words.
I wanted to grab that beak and rip it apart, but I didn't have the luxury of dealing with it.
I had to join the Snake Queen right now.
But I couldn't shake off the Rakshasa Bird.
Even if I retreated, it was unlikely to just stand by.
Even if the Snake Queen’s subordinates tried to block it, they wouldn't last long.
Even if I miraculously managed to lose it, that wouldn't solve everything.
The front line would collapse.
It could turn into a situation where the Rakshasa Bird helps Bifang, and then both of them help the King of Birds.
I had to kill it, or at least incapacitate it.
If I went to the Snake Queen, the balance here would be broken. If I remained to face this creature, the Snake Queen could be in danger.
…If only someone could hold this thing off, even for a moment.
Grind.
I clenched my teeth.
I couldn't hope for support.
We had no variables left.
“One hus…”
…One hus?
“One wiiiiife!”
A unicorn, charging like a madman.
No, a being that could now be called a Unicorn.
Kwwaaaaang!
There was a variable.
I acknowledged its strength.
It was strong enough that our fight had ended in a draw.
But it wasn't enough to face the Rakshasa Bird.
The unicorn's horn was broken.
It must know that too.
But it bypassed me and charged at the Rakshasa Bird.
That meant it was sending me away for the sake of victory in this war.
We weren't on good terms.
It was probably making this sacrifice for the Snake Queen.
…I’ll remember you, unicorn.
….
“Kiyaaaak! W-what is this crazy bastard?!”
…Huh?
The unicorn’s appearance?
*
The unicorn worships pure virgins.
Mind, spirit, and body.
It is a type of divine beast that distinguishes purity in a very strict manner and uses the single horn on its head to pierce and kill any being that deviates.
…Or so it was known, but the reality was a little different.
It doesn't show unconditional hatred for those who are not virgins.
A pure and devoted love.
If it is a love for a single being, the unicorn's horn acknowledges it.
What the unicorn revered was not virginity, but pure love.
From that perspective, the black lizard before it could be called its sworn enemy, and it would have nothing to say.
Seducing a pure virgin was one thing, but the problem was that he didn't stop at one.
The unicorn felt a sharp phantom pain from its already severed horn.
It cursed and resented the lizard.
It had followed the creature, harboring the ambition to one day punish it.
The Snake Queen, a pure virgin despite having a daughter.
And her daughter.
They were beings of absolute perfection, guaranteed by the unicorn.
And yet, they were being tainted by the lizard's color.
The unicorn put its foreleg in its mouth and sobbed.
They seemed happy now, but it could see that as time passed, they would be ruined.
Because love, the more it is shared, the more impossible it becomes to be equal.
That was the unicorn's conviction.
And yet, for some reason, the more it learned about that lizard, the more it felt its own conviction waver.
“One husband… one wife?”
For some reason, it felt as if its skin was turning black and two horns were about to sprout.
But it could not abandon the conviction of a lifetime.
The unicorn participated in this war to uphold its belief.
To punish the black lizard, its sworn enemy, with its own horn.
…Though that horn had been broken long ago.
It hated the black lizard.
It hated that lizard, who stole away pure beings, with a burning passion.
But what it hated most of all was that the lizard reminded it of the words of its kinsman who had fallen from a unicorn to a bicorn.
If they’re happy, isn’t that pure love?
Those were the words.
“One husband… one wiiiiife!”
The unicorn cried out at the top of its lungs.
But an opponent far more heinous than that lizard had appeared.
A foul stench that made the root of its horn ache.
The black bird before it was a detestable existence.
If you take a pure virgin, you must make her happy.
The Rakshasa Bird had declared it would steal the Snake Queen's husband.
The Husband-Thief (Naedorarae, 奶盜果䋱).
This was something that neither a unicorn nor a bicorn could ever forgive.
The unicorn bore the duty to eliminate all beings that threatened a pure virgin.
There were no exceptions.
The black lizard before it was no different.
It could not forgive him.
But to protect the love of a pure virgin…
It was willing to set aside even its own conviction for a moment.
That was the unicorn's true duty, and its right.
A unicorn that has lost its horn can no longer bear the name of a unicorn.
But the horn of a unicorn never grew from its nose in the first place.
Even a beast without a horn, if it holds the heart of a unicorn, can be called a unicorn.
“One husband… one wiiiiife!”
The horn of the unicorn is a heart that purifies impurity.
A sacred spear that annihilates those who have already been pierced by it.
The unicorn's true form was revealed.