Chapter 78: Tusulisu
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 78: Tusulisu
It was big.
Very big.
Of course, a lizard's size could be somewhat exaggerated.
The Green Basilisk is a lizard with a body length of a whopping 80cm.
One might think that's quite large.
But the problem was that most of that length was its tail.
That's why the majestic Green Basilisk fit so snugly in Baek Yeon-yeong's hand.
Without the tail, its actual body length was only about 20cm.
The best a lizard of such a cute size could do was bite Baek Yeon-yeong's white fingers.
…Thinking back on it now, I'm lucky I survived.
Hmph.
Anyway, just because a lizard was long didn't necessarily mean it was big.
But now, it was different.
The comparison wasn't exact since my reference points were the Snake Queen and Swish-Swish.
But even just standing still, I could tell I was truly massive.
In my basic lizard form—that is, on all fours—my head reached the height of an average human's shoulder.
If I stretched my legs, I'd be even taller.
Even that alone would make me an enormous lizard.
And unlike other lizards, I can walk on two legs with ease.
What if I stood on two feet?
A monster lizard, at least 3 meters tall, would be born.
If I performed the trick of balancing on my tail, I could drop the 'lizard' descriptor and just go by 'monster'.
“Gekgegek!”
I'd gotten way too big.
*
“How is it? Have you gotten used to that size?”
Some time had passed since I evolved into Gomodo-Lania.
But I still hadn't adapted.
My size as a Gomodo had been the most comfortable for moving around.
“Gekgegek….”
I let out a gek of discomfort.
This size would be great for combat.
Just by rolling my body around, I could probably deal a fatal blow to most enemies.
But when it wasn't a situation like that—in daily life—such a large body was unnecessary.
The Snake Queen also operated in human form instead of her true body, probably because it was more practical.
“Hmm…. As I thought, the size is the problem. It doesn't matter to me, but it must be very inconvenient for the princess….”
“Hieeeek….”
Swish-Swish was clinging to me, trying her best to measure my size.
But there was no way that chubby snake could measure my full length.
“You'll have to reduce your size.”
Is that even possible?
You should have told me sooner!
“Gek?”
Surely you don't mean something sinister like draining all my vitality to make me skinny?
“Taking on a human form would be best, but….”
Human form?
Humanization?
I can do that too?
“You're still far too lacking for that….”
My hopes were dashed as soon as they were raised.
Then again, I didn't really think I could take on a human form already.
To do something like polymorphing, I'd have to be at least at the Snake Queen's level.
Even the Snake Queen's lower half was still a snake.
It was a realm far beyond my current reach.
“However, it's not like there's no way to just reduce your size.”
I looked at the Snake Queen with sparkling eyes.
I really needed to shrink this body.
It was just too inconvenient right now.
The spiders might get startled and run away if they saw me.
If I tried to play a prank like putting Tang Soyeong's head in my mouth, I might accidentally swallow her whole.
And Swish-Swish seemed to be getting more listless by the day.
She was growing at a decent pace herself, but it seemed she'd lost her motivation because I had grown so overwhelmingly large.
“There is an ability called Miniaturization.”
Miniaturization!
That would solve most of my problems.
If I could shrink down to get around comfortably in normal times and then release the miniaturization to fight when needed, I could utilize this massive body to its fullest potential.
In a way, reducing my size was similar to hiding my strength.
It was like adding another card to my hand.
“Gekgek!”
Please, tell me right away, Snake Queen.
“I'm sorry, but I cannot use that ability. Since I took on a human form, I never had a need for miniaturization.”
“Gek….”
“But I do know of a being who is a master of that ability.”
“Gek!”
Yes, I knew I could count on you.
Quick, give me another fortuitous encounter.
“Honhwi (昏輝). A dualistic being that seems to hold both light and darkness.”
Even its name is cool.
It must be some kind of spirit beast, too.
Just from the name, I can't tell what kind it is.
“It's a species similar to you. It looks like the Aryong that roam this jungle, but its size is very small. It has a tiny frame, perhaps half the size of the princess.”
A species similar to me.
A lizard or a dinosaur, probably.
Smaller than Swish-Swish?
Just how small is it?
A very small dinosaur.
And the name Honhwi.
Honhwi….
Compy?
That tiny dinosaur?
Procompsognathus?
“If you go to it, you should be able to learn the profound principles of miniaturization.”
*
“Lord Baek Woon. Are you sure it's alright not to stop by the swamp?”
“It would be nice to obtain an inner core, of course. But I've realized the inner core is not what's important, so there's no need to go out of our way.”
Baek Woon fiddled with the sword at his waist.
After meeting the being called Gomodo, Baek Woon had attained an enlightenment.
It was a very faint enlightenment, but he felt he could now see a clue to the Peak Realm, which he had been unable to break through.
Reaching a higher realm through one's own enlightenment, without relying on things like inner cores.
If that was possible, then he no longer needed an inner core.
Baek Woon could only think of getting out of the 100,000 Great Mountains as quickly as possible.
Fortunately, nothing had happened so far.
They were still in the jungle, but no beasts had appeared to attack them.
If they just went a little further like this, they would escape the jungle and, beyond that, leave the 100,000 Great Mountains.
“We must have received Lord Gomodo's grace.”
“Grace? And why are you using honorifics for that thing?”
“Aish! 'That thing'?! Lord Baek Woon, Lord Gomodo is a truly divine spirit beast! Did you not see it for yourself?”
“…I saw it.”
Baek Woon also felt a sense of gratitude toward the being called Gomodo.
But unlike Jang Bong, who saw it as an object of worship, he considered Gomodo a wall he had to overcome.
Even if it was a spirit beast, its essence was likely close to that of an animal. However, the energy he felt from it was different from a mere beast's. He could feel a high level of internal energy, enough to believe it was at least a First-Rate martial artist. No, perhaps even at the Peak Realm.
If a mute lizard could reach such a realm, there was no reason he couldn't.
Therefore, to him, Gomodo was both an object of gratitude and a wall to be surpassed.
“And… I'm not just saying this, but strangely, I feel like I've gotten a bit stronger since I started worshiping Lord Gomodo.”
“It's probably just your imagination.”
“No, just trust me on this.”
Baek Woon scoffed.
Getting stronger simply by worshiping something.
There's no way something like that could happen.
That was sorcery, pure sorcery.
Even if what Jang Bong said was true, Baek Woon didn't want to become stronger that way.
At the very least, he would break through the wall of the Peak Realm with his own strength.
That was his conviction.
“Kegegek!”
A mysterious cry suddenly rang out.
Baek Woon immediately drew his sword and took a defensive stance.
“Lord Baek Woon. That is… haha.”
Jang Bong let out a hollow laugh at the creature that appeared before them.
A very tiny lizard was striking a bizarre pose.
Judging by its slightly long neck, it seemed closer to the beasts Baek Woon had defeated so far than a simple lizard.
The creatures Baek Woon and Jang Bong called Aryong—dinosaurs.
“Hey, you little rascal. The adults are talking here.”
“Leave it be. There's no need to harm it if it's not attacking us.”
“…I was thinking the same. After all, I have received Lord Gomodo's teachings.”
Jang Bong wore an awkward expression.
There was no need to go out of their way to bother that strange dinosaur.
Just as they were about to continue on their way.
“Duck!”
At Baek Woon's shout, Jang Bong immediately lowered his head.
Crack.
Crash.
With a tremendous roar, the tree right in front of them fell.
What was that sound?
Jang Bong was aghast.
“Huh, huuk!”
A giant Aryong appeared, twice the size of that monstrous bird with the power of petrification.
Baek Woon glared at the creature, gripping his sword.
It's strong.
In terms of raw power, it was likely even stronger than that monstrous bird.
A strength reminiscent of the being called Gomodo.
Baek Woon swallowed hard.
This was the same Baek Woon who had just vowed to shatter the wall blocking his path.
The corners of his mouth lifted.
“To think an opportunity would present itself so soon….”
“Krrrrraaaaaaa!”
The Aryong charged at Baek Woon with tremendous force.
He tightened his grip on his sword.
He had been defeated by the monstrous bird because of its unexpected power of petrification.
This time would be different.
The profound principles of the Thirty-Six Swords of the World were about to unfold from his blade.
KWAAAAAAAANG!
A deafening roar that shook the heavens and the earth.
“Krrruuuuk….”
The body of the beast charging toward Baek Woon buckled.
“Krrr…..”
It foamed at the mouth and then collapsed on the spot.
KUUUUNG!
“L-Lord Baek Woon?”
Did Baek Woon's sword cut it down?
No.
This result had come about before his sword had even touched the creature.
Did a chronic illness suddenly act up?
No, that wouldn't explain the massive crash from a moment ago.
Baek Woon and Jang Bong couldn't understand the situation.
What in the world had just happened?
“Kekekek!”
A cry similar to Gomodo's was heard.
Looking closely, wasn't that strange little lizard from before standing on top of the fallen beast's body?
Its eyes were somewhat dazed.
Its movements were languid.
Jang Bong shouted in disbelief.
“Th-that's!”
He remembered seeing it in a book.
That bizarre dance.
And that face, which looked like it had been put together wrong.
It was a legendary spirit beast, said to be on par with Gomodo.
“Tusulisu (鬪術利垂)!”
A spirit beast known to the world as Tusulisu, but those who truly know of it call it Honhwi.
Because it has not abandoned the form it had when it was at its weakest.