Chapter 40: The Sky is Full of a Rain of Flowers
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 40: The Sky is Full of a Rain of Flowers
Dilophosaurus.
The name of the monster I was about to face.
It was on a different level from the ones I'd fought before.
An opponent worthy of the name "medium-sized dinosaur."
Compared to a Baryonyx, its size was certainly smaller.
But compared to me, the difference was despair-inducing.
If I stood on two legs, our heights might be similar.
But the difference in weight was overwhelming.
It was 400kg. But it didn't seem to be a full-grown adult, so it was probably lighter.
My weight, according to the status window, was 15kg.
Of course, I'd grown bigger, so I was heavier than that, but the despairing difference remained unchanged.
This would not be an easy opponent.
Before we fight, I need to get rid of the distraction.
Shwaak!
I swung my tail as if to push her, striking Tang Soyeong.
That should be enough to wake her up.
Tang Soyeong came to her senses.
Her face pale, she looked back and forth between me and the Dilophosaurus.
Seeing her sluggish movements, it seemed the poison's effects were still lingering.
She couldn't even speak.
It looked like she was trying to help me, but I didn't need it.
"Krrrrr..."
If anything, having her here was just a hindrance.
Slap!
I pushed Tang Soyeong with my tail once more.
Only then did she grab Tus and Pus and start to back away hesitantly.
Yeah.
Her intuition is as sharp as ever.
Run as far away as you can.
"Kraaaaaa!"
The Dilophosaurus charged forward at a ferocious speed.
Its target wasn't me, but Tang Soyeong.
This Crocodile Monitor Lizard is right in front of it, and it's aiming for something else?
How arrogant.
I pushed off the ground with both feet and stood up.
Chajajajak!
Kicking off the ground, I closed in on it at high speed.
The legs of a Green Basilisk can strike the water's surface twenty times per second.
Having become a Crocodile Monitor Lizard, I still possessed the traits of a Green Basilisk.
Stronger and faster than before.
With the explosive power unique to monitor lizards, I reached it in an instant.
My sharp claws aimed for the enemy's head.
Shwaaaak!
But the creature ducked its head as if it were the most natural thing in the world, dodging my attack.
"Kigigigik!"
I expected as much, but this was still not easy.
The fundamental difference in size was the problem.
The caiman was a quadruped, so I could somehow close the gap. But this thing was a biped. Even if I stood on two legs, I couldn't bridge that difference.
The price for my failed attack was, naturally, its counterattack.
Would it slash with its claws, or bite with its teeth?
Or if not that...
Poison!
Shwaak!
The creature's crest flared open in an instant.
Dozens of types of poison sprayed out from it.
It must have realized a single poison couldn't take me down and changed its approach.
Just smelling it made my mind grow hazy.
But that was all.
What did it hope to accomplish with a mere dozens of poisons?
「All-Poison Immunity」
A hundred poisons dare not invade the body. Possesses a very strong resistance to poison.
I have All-Poison Immunity.
I immediately moved my claws, aiming for its head again.
Shwaak!
Once again, it moved nimbly, and I failed to hit my target.
But it wasn't a total loss. My claws had sliced off the edge of its crest.
"Kieeeek!"
Unlike the rest of its body, the crest wasn't very durable.
It must have been incredibly painful, as it thrashed about, using its tail and legs wildly to try and catch me.
Even if they were blind attacks, they'd be dangerous if they connected.
I had to back off for now.
I steadied my breathing.
The poisons it possessed couldn't deal me any fatal damage.
Even if they could, it probably couldn't use them instantly in a tense situation like this.
However, it was also highly likely that my own poison attacks wouldn't work on it.
We could rule out each other's poisons.
All that was left was a pure physical brawl.
"Kraaaaaa!"
It roared and charged at me.
Fast.
Incredibly so.
I quickly threw my body back to dodge.
Pabat.
Now, while it hadn't yet stopped its momentum.
Tadat.
After leaping into the air, I focused strength into my hands.
This was my chance.
These were the Dragon's Claws, which had pierced even the caiman's hide.
There was no way they wouldn't damage this thing.
Kaaaang!
The moment I used the Dragon's Claws, it struck my claws with its own.
"Kigigik."
That stance just now.
And that power.
It was an all-too-familiar technique.
It was the Dragon's Claws.
Thud.
The Dilophosaurus surged forward at high speed.
It spread its arms wide, then crossed them to slash at a single point.
I was sure of it. That attack was remarkably similar to the Dragon's Claws.
This was dangerous.
I quickly ducked and, contrary to its expectation, rushed toward it.
Because my target point suddenly dropped, its claws only cut through empty air.
I, on the other hand, could aim for its weak spots.
The crest I'd aimed for earlier.
The heart in the center of its chest.
I channeled strength from my toes and stabbed hard.
Kwadeuk!
It was tough.
But the Dragon's Claws isn't originally a stabbing motion.
It's about snatching the enemy with a dragon's talons.
Chwajajak!
I raked its chest as if scratching it.
Red blood flowed.
But it was shallow.
I couldn't be satisfied with a wound like this.
Once more...
Kwadeudeudeuk!
Almost at the same instant I struck its chest, its sharp claws slammed into my side.
Chajajajak!
Its strength sent me flying back, but I didn't fall.
But the damage I took was not something I could ignore.
My head was spinning.
The Dragon's Claws.
What a truly vicious martial art.
To think that letting it connect just once would cause such mind-numbing agony.
This was no time for admiration.
It charged at me immediately.
Kudangtang!
I quickly rolled my body to evade the follow-up attack.
The Dilophosaurus immediately leaped into the air and slammed its front claws downward.
Jjeoooong!
I barely managed to avoid it by rolling away.
Its attacks continued relentlessly.
Even without using poison, it linked its attacks with incredible fluidity.
I was being pushed back.
The severe injury to my side was the main reason.
I focused on dodging, continuously retreating.
Since my opponent was also using the Dragon's Claws, the chances of gaining the upper hand with my own claws had diminished.
The same went for my teeth.
Before I could even reach it, I'd be caught by its Dragon's Claws.
I thought I'd gotten pretty big, but my size was holding me back again.
Its momentum was building.
It was no wonder, since I'd been doing nothing but dodging without counter-attacking.
The Dilophosaurus drove me toward my nest.
Kudangtang!
The reason for herding me here was obvious.
To corner me against a wall and deliver the finishing blow.
"Karrrreuk!"
My claws and teeth couldn't reach it.
My physical strength was no match for it either.
My condition was also worse than its.
Kwadangtang!
While dodging its barrage of attacks, I ended up throwing myself into my nest.
The pile of branches and other junk collapsed with a crash.
It must be smiling triumphantly.
Because I was cornered, just as it planned.
Little did it know that I had led it here.
My claws are short. My teeth can't reach.
In that case, I just have to make my claws and teeth longer.
Sereung.
Lying next to me was a sword.
This was why I let myself be cornered here.
I've never swung a sword before.
In a lizard's body, even gripping a sword is difficult.
But what did that matter?
Kwadeuk.
I gripped the sword with my mouth.
I didn't expect to be able to fight it with this sword.
How could I defeat a stronger enemy with an unfamiliar weapon?
It was coming.
For a moment, it seemed wary of the sword in my mouth, but perhaps deciding it made no difference, it immediately opened its maw and approached me.
I advanced as well.
My right front paw curled inward.
Its claws were like a sharp, master-crafted sword.
If they clashed with this sword, it was more likely the sword's edge would be ruined.
I spun my body, aiming the sword's edge at the enemy's neck.
The Dilophosaurus swung its claws toward the blade.
Kwajik!
My triumphant strike was blocked by its Dragon's Claws.
But there was one thing it overlooked.
Chiiiiiiik.
"Kieeeeeek!"
That this sword had been used as a hot plate just a moment ago.
Grabbing it with its bare hands—of course it would get burned.
It thrashed wildly and jumped into the swamp water.
Right. If you get a burn, you go into the water.
Splash!
The Dilophosaurus's feet touched the swamp.
Now, the counterattack begins.
I dropped the sword and chased after it.
Land creatures slow down in the water.
It's a simple principle.
Except for me.
Shwaaaak!
I ran across the water's surface and launched a Dragon's Claws from an unexpected trajectory.
Jjeojeok!
A deep wound appeared on its right hind leg.
"Kraaaak!"
It moved its body about in a panic.
The more you panic in a swamp, the deeper you sink.
Shwaak!
The Dilophosaurus flared its crest and sprayed a large amount of poison.
It couldn't possibly believe that would actually harm me.
In that case, it was just a simple diversion.
It was buying time to escape the swamp.
I couldn't let that happen.
Srrrrk.
I dove deep into the water.
Thinking it had blocked my vision with the poison mist, it was scrambling to get back on land.
Yes.
You're falling right into my trap.
Kwakagagagak!
The moment its feet touched dry land, I shot out of the water and ambushed it.
I aimed for the leg I'd attacked before.
Kwagak!
My fangs found their mark.
Udeudeuk...
And at the same time, its claws came flying at me.
Kwajik!
I couldn't dodge because I was biting its leg.
The price I paid was my left eye.
Its claws plunged into my eye socket.
"Ggrrrrk..."
The pain was so intense I thought I'd lose consciousness.
As expected, it wouldn't go down easy.
Fine.
It can have one of my eyes.
I bit down so hard I thought my teeth would break.
The secret technique of the Crocodile Monitor Lizard...
The Death Roll.
Kwadeudeudeudeudeuk!
Clamped onto its leg, I spun my body like a madman.
Udeudeudeuk!
It didn't just stay still.
Was it instinct? It tried to rotate its body along with my movements.
I wouldn't let it.
One of its arms was still piercing my eye.
I raised my hand and gripped its arm tightly.
No matter which way we spun, I would take either its arm or its leg.
Kwadeudeudeuk!
Ujikkeun!
Peok!
In the end, its struggles made me lose my grip.
But the results were quite significant.
Its leg was barely holding its shape, and its left arm was mangled.
Of course, the damage I'd taken was also considerable.
I'd lost an eye and gained a large gash on my side.
Was it because I'd lost too much blood? Strength was slowly draining from my body.
I had to end this.
Any later, and I would die even if I won.
It seemed to be thinking the same thing, glaring at me fiercely.
"Krrrrreuk."
Alright.
Let's finish this properly.
Pababat!
It was the moment I leaped toward it.
The Dilophosaurus vanished.
No, it leaped to such an incredible height that it might as well have vanished.
Its leg was definitely injured, so how on earth...?
But such questions didn't matter.
Its crest, spread wide.
In its hands, which were now somehow full of them, were thin quills like hidden weapons.
"Kigigigigik!"
Countless hidden weapons and poisons filled the sky.
It was the secret technique of the Sichuan Tang Clan: Sky-Filling Flower Rain.