Chapter 54: Toward the Jungle
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 54: Toward the Jungle
A new region is always welcome.
As Baek Yeon-yeong suggested, I headed east.
Challenging the upper swamp wouldn't be a bad idea, but I doubted I'd gain much from conquering it. At most, I'd probably just get another title.
Besides, conquering the upper swamp is easier said than done.
The Baryonyx alone had been a tough opponent for me at my current level.
It was heavier than an Anodonto and larger than a Utahraptor.
Moreover, there was a high chance that creatures stronger than it existed there.
To exaggerate a bit, it might have been just another piranha in the grand scheme of the swamp.
Of course, it probably wasn't that insignificant, but I couldn't rule out the possibility of facing enemies stronger than the Baryonyx.
This uncertainty, of course, also applied to the jungle I was heading toward.
An enemy stronger than the Baryonyx could appear here at any moment.
Plus, it was unfamiliar terrain.
However, there was something definite to be gained here.
It meant there was a fated encounter, one acknowledged by Baek Yeon-yeong herself.
There had to be something that could grant me power comparable to, or even greater than, the Gongcheongseokyu [a rare spiritual elixir].
It had been a while since I’d had a good meal for invigoration.
Let's say, just for a moment, that Nephila Jurassica is cured in a month, and Tus and Pus evolve into Arachne.
It would be a good thing for me, but I couldn't help but feel a little anxious.
What if the spiders become stronger than me?
Of course, they wouldn't treat me poorly.
I practically raised them on my back, and they worship me.
And yet, there's this inexplicable anxiety.
A feeling that I'll be tied up tightly in webs and forced to spank a spider's rear end all day long.
A feeling that I'll have to offer up my tail every day as tribute.
And a feeling that all of Nephila Jurassica's... conditions... will be resolved all at once.
“Gekgek!”
This was practically a matter of life and death.
To protect my dignity as a lizard, I must become stronger.
If the spiders surpass me, from that day on, my authority will be trampled into the dust.
In more ways than one.
First, let's check my status.
【Gomodo LV6】
HP: 920/920
MP: 390/390
【Titles】
「Beloved by the Spider」
「Master of the Silver Dragon Cave」
「Master of the Swamp (Lower)」
So, the Master of the Swamp title is still here.
Has no one else claimed my spot? Or is it a title you keep once you've earned it?
It didn't really matter if it was the former.
Even if some Caiman-like creature appeared, a few pats would be enough to make it cough up its inner core.
My level is still 6.
I haven't defeated any worthy opponents since becoming a Gomodo, but still, my leveling speed is too slow.
Back when I was a Crocodile Monitor, I preyed on creatures like the Deinonychus—things I wouldn't have even dared to hunt before.
With great power comes the need for great experience points.
Now that I'm a Gomodo, it's to be expected, in a way.
If I had defeated the Anodonto myself, I would've reached at least level 10. That's a bit of a shame.
At this rate, it'll be a long time before my next evolution.
But that's not necessarily a bad thing.
With so much time left, I can guide my evolution toward a desired outcome.
Of course, I have no clue what comes after Gomodo, but I can at least set a direction.
For example, I could continue walking on two legs and follow the path of a theropod, transcending my lizard form.
Or I could diligently practice skills and martial arts with 'dragon' in their names and walk the path of the legendary spirit beast, the dragon.
The probability of becoming a dragon is likely very low.
However, even the Titanoboa evolved into a creature similar to a Hydra.
Seeing that, it's not entirely impossible.
【Skills】
「Dragon's Claws」「Little Dragon's Sky-Ascending Steps」「Small Heavenly Cycle」「All-Poison Immunity」「Baekran Mental Cultivation Method」「Gecko Wall-Walking Art」「Ancient Dragon Leg Art」
「Dragon Scales LV5」「Reverse Scale LV1」「Poison Generation LV4」「Poison Collection LV2」…….
I carefully examined the skills and martial arts bearing the name of the dragon.
The Ancient Dragon Leg Art at the end of the martial arts list caught my eye.
I ended up learning the Ancient Dragon Leg Art after all.
I can't replicate the power Baek Yeon-yeong demonstrated, but it's significant that I now have another technique to use when Dragon's Claws isn't effective.
I offered a moment of silence for the Utahraptor that sacrificed itself for me.
It probably got its cave back, so it should be satisfied.
It looked a bit thin, but I'm sure it'll fatten up soon.
Baek Yeon-yeong even provided it with some food.
Although, she did suddenly declare she needed its 'fur' and plucked all its feathers.
Anyway, back to the main point. Let's look at my condition.
My level may only be 6, but I was by no means weak.
I might just be the strongest lizard in this world.
Basically, this species called Gomodo can be thought of as a giant Komodo dragon.
It might seem a bit lacking to be called a legendary spirit beast, but the Komodo dragon itself is an apex predator.
As its superior version, the Gomodo was a creature that couldn't be weak even if it wanted to.
If the Crocodile Monitor or Water Monitor were cheetahs, the Komodo dragon would be a leopard or a jaguar. And the Gomodo would be a tiger.
My appearance isn't that different from a Komodo dragon's, either.
However, in my case, having acquired Dragon Scales does make me look different.
Normally, you could say I look like a Komodo dragon wearing armor.
A Komodo with a slightly thicker neck and more muscle.
If I transform my Dragon Scales, the resemblance to a Komodo fades even further.
I'd look like a black dragon straight out of a fantasy novel.
I've seen many lizards, but I've never seen one more handsome than me in this state.
I looked like I could breathe fire just by yawning.
“Geeeehng….”
Of course, no breath attack came out when I yawned.
Could the dripping saliva be called a breath attack?
It's mixed with poison, so let's just call it Poison Breath.
My scales are teal, so that makes me a Green Dragon.
As I walked on, lost in such silly thoughts, the jungle terrain Baek Yeon-yeong had mentioned began to come into view.
The jungle.
A jungle is a forest with densely packed trees.
In other words, a tropical rainforest.
Rustle.
I pushed through grass as tall as I was and entered.
A higher vantage point would be advantageous, so I walked on two legs, but even then, the grass was taller than me.
This was definitely a region inhabited by dinosaurs; the size of the grass alone was immense.
The dinosaurs that graze on grass this big must be enormous.
And the carnivorous dinosaurs that hunt them would be even bigger.
I'd better be on my guard.
As expected, the jungle was hot and humid.
The herbivorous dinosaurs I spotted here and there were, as expected, massive.
They tensed up and took a defensive stance upon seeing me, but I paid them no mind and continued forward.
I should at least survey the terrain before I start hunting.
Attacking recklessly could lead to who-knows-what.
Besides, there was no need to fight such large herbivores head-on.
Bzzzzzzzt!
This really was a jungle; even the flying insects were enormous.
There were mantises nearly the size of a Velociraptor, and dragonflies so large you'd mistake them for pterosaurs. At that size, they'd make a satisfying meal even for me.
Of course, I had no reason to eat bugs, so I didn't target them.
I only ate things like that when I had nothing else.
It's been a long time since I became a civilized lizard who grills his meat.
...Wait, Tang Soyeong isn't here anymore. How am I supposed to grill anything?
Should I wait for a lightning strike?
Visibility in the jungle was extremely limited.
With so many tall plants, that was only natural.
Tall plants, large herbivorous dinosaurs, and giant flying insects.
It was a biological distribution you could call a jungle, but something felt off.
One thing was missing.
The absence of predators.
Even if there weren't predators for the giant herbivores, there should at least be something that preys on the insects.
But I couldn't even see dinosaurs like that.
Is this a place with no predators?
No, that can't be right.
The carcasses of other dinosaurs were strewn about.
They were fresh, with no signs of decay, meaning they hadn't been dead for long.
I saw large footprints everywhere.
But they were different from what I'd expect from a dinosaur.
Right.
These were the footprints of a bird.
This information all pointed to one thing.
There is a predator near me.
An intelligent and large one.
Like a Deinonychus?
No, this was something more dangerous.
It was stalking me, silencing its steps.
It didn't matter when it started.
Because they had made a mistake.
An ambush from the tall grass would have been dangerous.
But I had already moved.
To a relatively open space.
To attack me, they would have no choice but to reveal themselves.
“Grrrr….”
I let out a low growl.
I know you're hiding.
If you won't come out, I'm coming in.
It was a warning.
The jungle was not quiet.
The sounds of various creatures came from all directions.
The cries of birds or pterosaurs flying in the sky.
The roar of a dinosaur in the distance.
The sounds of insects fighting each other.
And the sound of something rushing toward me at high speed.
Crash! Thump-thump-thump!
“Kieeeeeek!”
“Kigigigigik!”
The one stalking me wasn't alone.
There were two of them.
And they were quite dangerous.
【Titanis LV14】
【Titanis LV18】
【Titanis】
A type of terror bird, its name originates from the Titans of Greek mythology.
It is a giant terror bird that grows to a height of 1.4-2m and weighs around 250kg.
Its legs, capable of running at speeds up to 50 km/h, are one of its most powerful weapons.
It is a menacing hunter that uses its powerful, hooked beak to smash its enemy's skull with a downward strike.
“Kieeeeeeeek!”
The terror bird let out a roar like that of an eagle.
It spread its flightless wings and puffed up its feathers, trying to intimidate me.
It was certainly impressive.
With that roar and size, it would have broken the spirit of most prey right from the start.
“Grrrrrrrrr…”
But it won't work on me.
I'll have to show it what a real roar is.
“Gegegegegek!”
Come on, you two chickens.