Chapter 43: The Third Evolution
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 43: The Third Evolution
Tang Soyeong?
How is she here?
No.
That’s not what’s important.
What’s important is that a member of the Tang Clan is tending to Nephila Jurassica.
And that she’s asking for an inner core.
She can be saved.
CRUNCH!
I quickly tore into the Dilophosaurus’s body. As I ripped it apart with my claws, I saw a large inner core, a mix of purple and green.
[High-grade Inner Core (Green)]
Holding the inner core in my mouth, I rushed over. My level had gone up from defeating the Dilophosaurus, so all my injuries were healed.
Fwip-fwip-fwip!
“Gek-ge-ge-gek!”
I urgently handed the inner core to Tang Soyeong.
Without even looking at me, she took it. After splitting it precisely in half, she placed it in Nephila Jurassica’s mouth.
Tap.
She used her hands and a needle to perform acupressure on Nephila Jurassica.
“Gek…”
I watched Nephila with worried eyes.
The bleeding had stopped, but she still looked to be in critical condition.
After pressing a few more acupoints, Tang Soyeong looked at me and nodded. It must have meant I could come closer now.
Her chest rose and fell. It was faint, but she was definitely breathing.
“Gek-ge-gek!”
She was alive.
She hadn’t died.
Drip.
A hot tear fell from my eye.
It landed right before Nephila Jurassica’s eyes.
Seeing me, she gave a small smile, just like before.
Her delicate hand wiped away my tear.
The only difference from before was that this time, her hand wouldn't fall away limply.
My spider.
I met Nephila’s gaze.
Eight red eyes stared back at me.
…Huh?
Eight?
There were definitely only two before.
The soft touch on my cheek also felt different somehow. It felt like a sharp, hard blade was resting there.
“Kieeeek!”
Nephila.
I’m happy you’re alive, but…
This is suddenly a bit much.
“Kieeeeeek!”
“Geck!”
Stop!
Get away from me for a second!
*
“Thank goodness. We were somehow able to reverse the damage from her overexerting herself.”
Thanks to Tang Soyeong, Nephila Jurassica was saved.
Of course, I was quite, no, extremely, no, incredibly disappointed that her beautiful face was gone, but at least her life was saved. What more could I ask for?
But how did she get back here? Especially after being hit by the Dilophosaurus’s poison attack.
“It truly surprised me. To think I was poisoned without even realizing it. I thought I had a complete grasp of Dilopho's poison, but I never imagined it was hiding its true power…”
I was amazed at the Dilophosaurus's cunning. Then again, if Tang Soyeong had known the full extent of its power, she would have given me a stronger warning. No, the Tang Clan would never have entrusted her with managing the Dilophosaurus in the first place. While her skills were remarkable, her martial prowess was nothing to speak of.
“I survived thanks to you, Hero Go. Thank you so much. It broke my heart to run away and leave you behind, but then this spider happened to help me.”
She helped you?
“She gave me a medicinal herb with detoxifying properties. A normal spider wouldn't know about such things, so I believe this one must have also resided with our Tang Clan.”
So Nephila Jurassica, who had been circling around me, ran into the fleeing Tang Soyeong. She gave her the antidote and rushed back to me, while Tang Soyeong waited for the poison to be neutralized before finally arriving.
I glanced over at Nephila Jurassica. She was busy pulling on my tail with her long legs. Tus and Pus were clinging to my tail, watching her. Normally, they would have been shrieking and trying to stop her, but what was with that determined look on their faces? Do spiders have some secret way of communicating, or did this incident change their minds about something?
I'm just glad everyone is safe.
If even one of them had been missing, things wouldn't have turned out this way.
I saved them all.
I didn't lose a single one.
“…Losing Dilopho is a painful blow, but what's lost is lost.”
So we did lose one thing, huh.
“Hero Go. Say ‘ah.’”
Tang Soyeong made a sudden request.
I'm not a child.
Creaaak.
I opened my mouth wide.
At the same time, Tang Soyeong put something in my mouth.
Was she giving me medicine? It had a familiar bitter taste.
…This is the inner core!
“Gek-ge-gek!”
There isn't even enough for Nephila!
I was about to force myself to spit it out.
“You should have it, Hero Go. I already fed half to the Spider Lady. Consuming any more would be like poison to her.”
Oh, really?
Well, I guess I have no choice then.
…Wait, no.
“Gek.”
I stretched out my tail and pointed at the Dilophosaurus's corpse. I was trying to say, The spirit beast you were managing is dead, shouldn't you at least recover its inner core?
“I'm fine. Please, you take it, Hero Go. You're the one who defeated it, so it's only right.”
If she insists, I can't refuse.
Too bad for her if she thought I'd ask a second time.
Gulp.
This familiar taste. It had been a while since I'd eaten an inner core.
My body grew warm on its own.
“…Besides, you need that inner core right now, Hero.”
Well, the more inner cores, the better.
“We'll have to monitor the Spider Lady's condition for a while longer. It will take some time, so please, Hero Go, you should do what you need to do.”
As she spoke, her gaze returned to Nephila Jurassica. She was no longer in human form but had completely reverted to her spider appearance.
For a moment, I wondered if she could treat her properly, but I quickly realized it was a needless worry. After all, she always knew more about animals than humans.
Crack.
“Kieeeng!”
“Feels good, doesn't it?”
I had no idea why a martial artist was giving chiropractic treatment to a spider, but I decided to just let it go.
I knew exactly what I had to do.
The messages that kept flickering in my vision.
And the max level I had finally reached.
【Crocodile Monitor LV20(+)】
I had reached level 20 by defeating the Dilophosaurus. That symbol after the level number. It was time to evolve.
Dragging the Dilophosaurus meat with me, I entered my ruined nest.
[A spiritual energy envelops your body.]
I can feel the power of the inner core I just ate.
This is different from a normal inner core.
[Evolution is possible.]
Is it because of the color? I can feel the Dilophosaurus's power in its entirety.
[Would you like to evolve?]
Of course!
【Crocodile Monitor】 can evolve into:
1. 【Gharial】
2. 【Reticulated Python】
3. 【Komodo Dragon】
There were no unusual options like the Thylacine or Dimetrodon.
All three were reasonably acceptable choices.
It was a little surprising that the Komodo Dragon was a normal evolution and not a special one.
Then again, evolving directly from a Crocodile Monitor, a Komodo is about what I should expect.
【Gharial】
A species of crocodile that grows to be 3-6m long and weighs around 160kg. It is characterized by its long, thin snout and slender teeth. They have a tendency to live in groups and communicate with one another through unique cries.
The Gharial.
A pretty good option right off the bat.
Its size class is incredible. More than double the weight and length of a typical Piranha Caiman. Choosing this one would make life considerably easier.
But it has a fatal flaw.
The Gharial is ugly.
So ugly it's embarrassing to even call it a crocodile.
Let's move on.
【Reticulated Python】
The longest extant snake, growing up to 9m and weighing up to 100kg. It hunts by slowly constricting its enemies with its overwhelming size and muscle. Large individuals have been recorded preying on crocodiles and sun bears.
The longest extant snake.
Smaller than a Titanoboa, of course.
The Reticulated Python's size class was also excellent. That meant its base combat power would be outstanding.
The only problem is that I would literally go from being a lizard to a snake.
My legs would disappear.
That means I wouldn't be able to use the Little Dragon's Sky-Ascending Steps or the Dragon's Claws.
A shame, but you're a pass, too.
【Komodo Dragon】
The largest extant lizard, growing up to 3.6m and weighing up to 160kg. It is a powerful hunter that mercilessly hunts its prey with serrated teeth reminiscent of a theropod. It is also adept at long-term battles using the venom and bacteria in its saliva, but most opponents fall before the poison even takes effect.
This is it.
This is a proper lizard.
A lizard that can weigh up to 160kg.
Of course, that's the maximum record, so the average would be around 80kg. Even that would be enough to solve all my problems.
There's no need to look any further.
Even if a special evolution appeared, there's no way it would be a better option than the Komodo Dragon.
[Conditions for a special evolution have been met.]
Still, I should at least take a look.
[An achievement that would surprise an Allosaurus has been unlocked!]
Huh?
[You have accomplished an unbelievable feat.]
This is a message I've never seen before.
[A hidden option is revealed as a reward.]
A hidden option?
Something's strange. It's not a special evolution. A completely different term popped up.
With a pounding heart, I looked at the choices.
【Crocodile Monitor】 can evolve into:
1. 【Gharial】
2. 【Reticulated Python】
3. 【Komodo Dragon】
4. 【Gomodo】 (Requires 「Dragon Scales」, 「Uprooting Mountains and Overpowering the World」, 「Nine Yin White Bone Claw」, and consumption of a High-grade Inner Core fragment (Green))
Wait a minute.
What the hell is with that long list of requirements?
And why is Gomodo showing up here?
So Tang Soyeong wasn't talking nonsense?
A Gomodo actually exists?
Not a Komodo Dragon?