Chapter 29: Revenge Match
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 29: Revenge Match
“Kieeeek!”
Seeing me, Pus and Tus trembled uncontrollably.
Well. It’s been a while. I’m actually kind of glad to see you.
So you were alive.
It’s a relief, but what the hell is going on?
Why are they with that crocodile?
And they were almost crushed, too.
So, trying to kill me wasn't enough? You had to go after these little ones, too.
You weren't hunting them for food, were you? There's no way they'd be enough to fill your stomach.
No more distractions.
Focus on the enemy before me.
Thud!
I shoved the caiman away.
At the same time, I gently nudged the spiders with my tail.
It’ll be dangerous if you’re too close.
Go somewhere safe.
【Piranha Caiman LV30】
【Status】
「Enraged」
I stared straight at the caiman.
The beast tilted its head, trying to figure out who I was, then let out a deafening roar.
“Kraaaaaa!”
It must have realized who I am.
After all, I have its inner core inside me.
Piranha Caiman.
The first Piranha Caiman I ever saw wasn't this big.
Having reached level 30, this one had to be a unique individual.
Besides, if I hadn't stolen its inner core, it might have already evolved. A body this size was to be expected.
But I'm not about to be outdone.
This isn't like that stormy night.
I won't back down anymore.
“Grrrr…”
I let out a low growl.
Splash, splash, splash.
The caiman charged at me.
The water was too shallow for it to swim, so it couldn't reach its top speed.
Still, it was fast.
That speed, with a body that size.
Its power was simply unfair.
I dug my hind legs into the ground and braced for its charge.
Crrrack.
It must have been stunned.
Who would dare to face it head-on?
Groan.
Its immense weight, incomparable to the millipede's, pushed against me.
But now, I could withstand it.
Snap!
There was no way its attack would end with a simple headbutt.
Its huge teeth aimed for my neck.
If that hits, I'm dead.
Snap!
With a quick movement, I threw my head back and dodged.
Its jaws snapped shut on empty air.
The moment its mouth closed, the advantage was mine.
You shouldn't have led with your head, you fool.
KRAAANG!
My claws, like those of a dragon, slammed into its snout.
Given its size, it wouldn't be a fatal blow.
But if I keep hammering away, it will eventually break.
KWAANG!
It didn't just take the hits.
We were too close for either of us to use our mouths recklessly.
It raised its forelimbs and began to attack, just as I had.
KWANG!
It was bearable.
It was a blow of pure strength, so it wasn't that painful.
The damage I'm dealing is overwhelmingly higher.
But if this continues, I'll be the one to fall in the end.
Even if my attack power is higher, its absolute durability is superior.
Stab!
I quickly stabbed its neck twice with my Dragon's Claws.
Blocked by its tough hide, I couldn't deal much damage, but this was enough.
I struck its head with my tail and simultaneously threw myself backward, creating distance.
Thump.
The brawl ends here.
I've learned what I needed to.
The strength of its leg muscles.
The durability of its neck.
And its ability to react.
I'm not foolish enough to fight on its terms.
Strength and durability are its advantages.
My advantage is speed.
I stood on two feet.
Its speed wasn't slow, either.
It was about the same as the Green Basilisk's top speed.
But I'm even faster now, while it has remained the same.
Which means…
I am faster than it.
“Kraaaa!”
With distance between us, it now had the leeway to use its mouth.
The caiman charged at me, its huge mouth open.
Thump!
I stepped on its jaw and leaped into the air.
My landing point was the caiman's tail.
Chomp!
Pinning the tip of its tail with my Dragon's Claws, I bit down on the middle.
Crunch!
The teeth of a Crocodile Monitor were sharp enough to pierce a crocodile's hide if they got a proper bite.
“Kueeeek!”
It screamed in pain and thrashed about.
Not missing the chance, I injected poison into its body.
It didn't stay still.
As it shook its tail wildly, my grip began to loosen.
Just a little longer.
One second, two seconds, and three seconds.
Thud!
My grip broke, and I was struck by its tail.
KWAANG!
My body slammed into the ground.
The shallow water of the swamp cushioned the blow, but the damage was still significant.
My whole body ached.
Indeed, this was not an opponent to be taken lightly.
Still, I achieved my goal.
【Piranha Caiman LV30】
【Status】
「Enraged」「Poisoned」
It's poisoned.
Its hide is tough, but now that I've injected poison inside, there's nothing it can do.
But the amount I just injected won't be enough to take it down.
It should be enough to hinder it, though.
Dodge its attacks, and chip away at it little by little.
The caiman's tail flew at me.
I immediately leaped and bit its hind leg.
Crunch!
I injected poison and immediately pulled back.
Yes.
If I just keep doing this, I can defeat it.
Another body slam from the beast.
Instead of taking it head-on, I moved to the right and dodged.
What I saw was the part of the neck I'd wounded earlier.
If I bite there, it'll be a critical hit.
Crunch!
I used all my remaining MP to release a flood of poison.
With this, even it…
CRUNCH!
Damn.
Somehow, my left hind leg was in its mouth.
The bite wasn't strong enough to tear it off instantly.
But.
Rumble!
As its jaws tightened, it began to spin its body wildly.
The crocodile's signature move.
The Death Roll.
I'd be lucky if only my leg was torn off; my whole body could get caught up in it.
There's only one way to survive being caught in a Death Roll.
To spin at the same speed.
Grrrrind!
Even while spinning, I didn't stop attacking.
I kept biting its neck and scratching around its eyes with my claws.
Crash! Bang!
After rolling like that for a few rotations, its mouth naturally fell open.
I quickly pulled my leg out and created distance.
This is not good.
My leg is still attached, but it has already lost all function.
I have to assume the leg is gone.
I've lost most of my mobility.
It seemed to know that too, as it didn't look disappointed despite failing to tear it off.
“Krrrrr…”
My left leg is useless.
The only option left for me was close-quarters combat.
Fine.
Come on.
“Kraaaaaak!”
It roared and charged at me.
I moved forward as well.
To avoid those teeth, I either had to create distance or engage in extreme close-quarters combat.
With an injured leg, I couldn't create distance, so I got even closer.
The brawl began with both of us reared up on our hind legs.
KWAANG!
My Dragon's Claws, imbued with internal energy, struck its head squarely.
Blood spurted from the caiman's nose.
Its condition was also much worse than before.
My chances of winning weren't zero.
Shhhk!
Its foreclaw raked my side.
Kuhk…
My side had been injured when it bit my leg, so the pain was doubled.
I can't back down like this.
Just a little more.
KWAANG!
Just a little more!
Kwajik!
I kept landing effective hits.
I took a lot of damage in the process, but I couldn't fall.
KUUUNG!
The crocodile instantly spun its body and swung its tail.
This was an attack I had no choice but to dodge.
I threw my body back to create distance.
…Right. There's distance between us again.
That means its bite attack is a threat again.
And in my current state, I wasn't confident I could dodge it.
Kwagagagak!
Its speed had also slowed down considerably.
But not enough for me to dodge with one ruined leg.
It opened its massive maw.
Sharp teeth aimed for my neck.
I can't dodge this.
KWADUDUDUDUK!
Its teeth mercilessly chewed into my body.
What it bit was my tail. Instead of letting my neck be severed, I quickly spun my body and sacrificed it.
It happened so fast I couldn't even use Tail Severance.
An immense pain washed over me.
“Grrrrk…”
The pain of living flesh being torn.
Blood dripped from my tail.
Chomp, chomp.
It greedily chewed and ate my tail.
The caiman looked down at me with arrogant eyes.
It must be sure of its victory.
My stamina kept dropping, while it had replenished its energy by eating my tail.
It slowly approached me.
[HP is low!]
The status window, my instincts, were all telling me my life was in danger.
At this rate, I'll die.
All that was left for that crocodile was to toy with an exhausted lizard.
…Or so it thinks.
“KUEEEEEK!”
It let out a terrible scream and vomited blood.
【Piranha Caiman LV30】
【Status】
「Deadly Poison」「Near Death」
The five-colored thread and bundle of straw tied to my tail.
They aren't just decorations.
They're a lump of poison, made by thoroughly soaking them in my own venom and the venom of the insects from the Silver Dragon Cave.
A poison concentrated for a whole week.
And it just swallowed that poison whole.
“KUEHEEEEK!”
Gauging its resistance by deliberately engaging in close combat.
Constantly creating distance to drain its stamina.
And letting it bite my tail at the end.
It was all for this moment.
I figured that once its stamina was low, it would immediately chew and swallow any part of my body it tore off.
Strong, but simple-minded.
That was your downfall.
Thud.
KWAAAAANG!
I brought my Dragon's Claws down on its skull.
Kwajik!
I struck it again and again, endlessly.
Part of the reason I chose to become a Crocodile Monitor instead of a Water Monitor was because of this bastard.
The crocodile's watcher, the crocodile's adversary.
The first object of my fear.
I have overcome you.
I bit the neck of the dazed caiman.
Kwaduduk!
My sharp teeth dug into its hide.
I clenched my jaw with enough force to break my own teeth.
Craaack!
Its thick neck bone broke.
The sound of the bone breaking sounded almost cheerful.
[Level Up.]
[Level Up.]
[Level Up.]
…
I won.
I defeated it.
I placed a foot on the caiman's corpse.
Now, I am the master of this swamp.
I looked up at the sky and roared.
“Gegegegek!”
…I keep messing that up.