Chapter 88: Cold and Fire
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 88: Cold and Fire
The backlash of miniaturization was gigantification.
My body grew even larger than before.
Of course, it wasn't as dramatic a change as when I used miniaturization.
I just got a little bigger and a little heavier.
But since that 'little' was relative to a Gomodo-Lania, the scale was on another level.
“Krrrr…”
I let out a low roar and looked down at the Megatherium.
The beast was still enormous.
After all, I had gotten bigger, not it smaller.
Seeing me, the Megatherium puffed itself up as large as it could.
It was probably trying to show that it wouldn't be intimidated.
Like a frilled lizard flaring its frill.
It was laughable.
Trying to look bigger was a survival tactic of the weak.
“Guwooooar!”
While the beast was puffing itself up, the geckos moved quickly.
Thankfully, it seemed none of them had fainted at the sight of me.
They grabbed the gecko that had blocked the Megatherium and swiftly retreated from the battlefield.
The Megatherium couldn't stop them.
All of its attention was focused on me.
My arms, my legs, and my tail.
It was on high alert, watching my every move.
And it was also assessing the state of my body.
Swaaaaa.
The rain continued to fall, washing away the blood.
The fire and cold energy dwelling in my Dragon Blood repelled the rainwater, but I immediately withdrew my internal energy, turning it back into ordinary blood.
It was more advantageous for the blood to be washed away right now.
Although miniaturization had worn off and I was benefiting from gigantification, my situation wasn't great.
The wounds the beast had inflicted on me were still there.
My head was still dizzy.
My broken bones made it hard to move.
I couldn't move like I did before.
I couldn't even stand on two legs, so it would be difficult to use the profound martial arts of the Little Dragon as I had before.
“Grrrr…”
But was that really a problem?
The movements I made earlier were only to compensate for my smaller body.
Now, every single one of my normal attacks was like an ultimate technique.
“Kraaaaaa!”
I planted my broken leg on the ground.
I used my Dragon Scales to apply strong pressure, supporting the broken bone.
It was a crude form of first aid.
But it was enough to reach the beast.
Kuuung!
Kung!
“Kkuwooooooo!”
The Megatherium chose not to evade, but to face me head-on.
It rose up on its two legs, its already massive size growing even larger.
Kwaang!
Kwang!
Before I could even get close, it slammed the ground with immense force.
Kururung….
The earth rumbled.
But it had no effect on me in my current state.
The beast must have known that.
Its actions were likely a sort of warning.
A warning that if I charged now, I would be hit by that attack.
That I would be brutally killed by its puffed-up form.
“Kkuwowo!”
That's what was so funny.
What kind of predator warns its prey?
“Kraaaaaaak!”
I continued to run toward the beast.
No, 'run' might be the wrong word.
Who would look at me now and think I was running?
My speed was far too slow to be called running.
Nevertheless, I kept advancing toward it.
The Megatherium didn't avoid me.
It stood its ground, continuing to slam the earth and threaten me.
Kwaaaaaang!
It looked like it was randomly smashing the ground, but it was like a bombardment.
To attack it, I had to walk into that merciless barrage.
In my current condition, there was no way I could dodge it.
I only had one choice.
To break through the attacks and get in close.
[Using 「Reverse Scale LV1」.]
With my remaining MP, I could only use it once.
[Temporarily acquiring 「Uprooting Heavens and Overpowering the World」.]
Kuguguuuuuu.
A powerful force pressed down on the Megatherium.
The beast's own strength was formidable, so it could resist to some extent.
But it must have had to divert its power to withstand Uprooting Heavens and Overpowering the World.
Now was my chance.
Kkudeuk.
I pushed off my broken leg, approaching the beast as fast as I could.
Its claws came crashing down as if it had been waiting.
Even though I had restricted its movements, it wasn't so much that it couldn't attack at this range.
It was more like I'd reduced its combo to a single strike.
In other words, I had closed the distance prepared to take a hit.
Kwaaaaaaaaaang!
The beast's massive claws struck my shoulder directly.
Kkudeuk.
Kkudeudeuk.
Its attack was powerful enough to shatter my scales.
A typical Megatherium weighs around 4 tons.
This one wasn't typical, so I had to assume it was at least 5 tons.
An attack backed by that much weight was bound to be strong.
But in my current state, I could withstand such a blow.
I'd closed the gap by taking one hit—how could I not call that a good trade?
And I had only allowed it one hit.
Which meant it was now my turn.
I immediately swung my right hand in a counterattack.
Jjeoooooooong!
My internal energy-infused Dragon's Claws slammed into the beast's shoulder.
I had aimed for its head, but it twisted its body and I missed.
Still, it was fine.
My energy-infused claws tore through its thick hide.
Kwadeudeuk.
“Kkweeeek!”
The Dragon's Claws technique was, by nature, a tearing motion.
I grabbed its raw flesh and ripped it right off.
“Kkwaaaaaaaaaak!”
The Megatherium roared in agony.
It must have truly understood the pain of having its flesh torn.
I unleashed the Dragon's Claws once more.
Again, I aimed for its head.
It was impossible for it to completely dodge my energy-infused claws.
Thwump.
So the beast changed its strategy.
It decided to grab my wrist and block the attack.
And then attack me with its other hand.
Whoooosh.
But did it think I would just stand by and watch?
Thwump.
We ended up grabbing each other's wrists.
Udeudeuk.
The situation had turned into a bare-handed, ultra-close-quarters battle.
The outcome would be decided by pure strength alone.
This creature was larger than an elephant; I couldn't say I had the upper hand in raw power. Not to mention my body wasn't in perfect condition.
“Guwowowooo!”
The beast's momentum surged.
It must be thinking, 'I'm stronger.'
But hadn't it forgotten something?
Kwadeudeudeuk!
The fact that my teeth are sharper than yours.
“Guwaaaak!”
I bit down hard on its shoulder.
The Megatherium thrashed in pain, its grip loosening.
Jjeong!
Not missing the opportunity, I unleashed the Dragon's Claws again.
“Kkuwowoek!”
The Megatherium's massive body staggered.
But this only brought us back to square one.
The injuries I'd sustained from it when I was smaller had been that severe.
Whoooosh.
Kwaaaang!
The beast's hand immediately flew at me again.
I blocked its attack with my shoulder.
Ttududuk.
My Dragon Scales were being torn off.
In terms of single-hit power, it still had the advantage.
Jjeong!
Kwadeuk!
In that case, I just had to attack more times for every one of its blows.
Jjeo-eong!
The nature of the battle shifted from a contest of strength to a slugfest.
It reminded me of when I fought the caiman.
A close-range brawl where no other techniques could be used.
Every single blow was a killing strike aimed at the other's life, but neither of us chose to evade.
Jjeooooong!
Kwang!
Our blood splattered everywhere.
Even the pouring rain couldn't wash it all away.
Kwaaaaang!
The beast's huge foreleg landed a solid blow on my chest.
An immense wave of pain washed over me, but I gritted my teeth.
Just a little more.
Jjeong!
Kwaaang!
Once again, our attacks struck home.
Just a little more.
Jjeo-eong!
Kwang!
“Kkweeeek…”
“Keoheok…”
The coppery scent of blood stung my nostrils.
With every attack I took, with every attack I landed, something broke.
There wasn't a single spot on my body not covered in blood.
“Geuheheok…”
The Megatherium seemed confident of its victory.
Its total stamina was higher than mine, so if we kept trading blows like this, its victory was certain.
The beast knew it.
And I knew it too.
But I wasn't kind enough to fight on its terms, even knowing that.
Yes.
This is enough.
Kwadeudeudeuk.
I grabbed the beast's wrist once more.
The Megatherium did the same with its other hand.
It must be cheering inwardly.
Because we had returned to a contest that favored it.
And because my condition was even worse than before.
Because, covered in blood, I couldn't possibly muster more strength than before.
Yes.
I was covered in blood.
I drew up the internal energy from my dantian.
[Strong fire energy now dwells in your blood.]
[Strong cold energy now dwells in your blood.]
The first time I revealed this ability, I'd thought, Oops.
I had shown my hand without even knowing how to control it.
But the beast paid it no mind.
Partly because the falling rain obscured its vision.
Thanks to that, I was able to hide this ability.
I didn't have enough blood to use the ability to its full potential.
That's why I instigated this slugfest.
To lower its guard against an ability it might have glimpsed, and to gather blood while draining its stamina.
A sufficient amount of blood had been gathered.
Hwarururuk.
It didn't just end with my blood being imbued with cold and fire energy.
Once a certain amount of Dragon Blood had accumulated, it materialized the cold and fire energy.
A paradoxical power, a mixture of fire and cold.
A cold fire enveloped my entire body.
“Kkweeeeeeeek!”
The Megatherium shrieked in agony.
A blue flame had suddenly appeared.
The flame was hot enough to burn its hide and cold enough to freeze its thoughts.
The Megatherium naturally let go of my wrist.
It was bound to be flustered.
And not just because of the power of the cold and fire.
The Snake Queen and the King of Birds had shown a strange obsession with the existence of dragons.
That probably wasn't limited to just the leaders.
Every living creature in this jungle likely had some interest in dragons.
Whether it was obsession, awe, or fear.
“Kkueeeeeeeek!”
The Megatherium screamed, terrified.
The cold flame burned and froze its body at the same time.
“Krrrr…”
Its movements slowed considerably.
It was time to end this.
Kwadeudeudeudeuk!
I bit down on the Megatherium's thick neck.
Its hide was so thick my teeth couldn't easily sink in.
But I had been continuously attacking its neck and shoulder area.
Naturally, its durability there would have weakened.
Kwazak!
My sharp teeth pierced its hide.
“Krrrrrrk…”
Foaming at the mouth with blood, the Megatherium thrashed about in a final struggle.
It went without saying, but my mouth was also full of blood.
And that meant my Dragon Blood had entered its body.
Hwaruruk.
Cold and fire energy erupted from my mouth.
Like a fire-breathing dragon.
It flailed its arms, trying to resist somehow, but it was too late.
Hwarururuk.
“Kkweeeeeeeeeek!”
Jjeojeojeok.
This is the end.
“Kk, krrrrrk…”
Its resistance gradually weakened.
I have no hobby of tormenting a dying enemy.
Let's send it off quickly.
Kwadeuk!
I bit down with enough force to break my own teeth.
Udeudeudeuk!
I heard the crisp sound of its neck bone snapping.
Kuuung.
Its massive body fell to the ground.
The Megatherium didn't move an inch.
[You have leveled up.]
[You have leveled up.]
[You have leveled up.]
[You have leveled up.]
[You have leveled up.]
That familiar notification.
Yes.
I defeated it.
I, this Gomodo-Lania.
Standing on the Megatherium's corpse, I let out a valiant roar.
“Gegegegegegek!”