Chapter 89: Father-in-law, It's a Misunderstanding
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 89: Father-in-law, It's a Misunderstanding
The King of Birds felt a sense of unease.
Why in the world was that old man so composed?
Could it be that he had some hidden means to defend against this attack?
Of course, the forces the King of Birds had dispatched were not his strongest card.
Legendary spirit beasts like the Bifang, the Rakshasa Bird, or even the Jian Bird were part of his faction.
The Megatherium he had sent this time was a step below them.
But it was still a formidable creature.
In terms of raw physical strength, it could rival a spirit beast.
Moreover, the target—the Snake Queen's companion—was in a shrunken state.
It was unthinkable that a Megatherium would fail to capture one tiny lizard.
"What is it that you're hiding?"
KABOOOOM!
Once again, a beam of destruction shot from the Human-faced Bird's mouth.
It was meant as a diversionary shot, but its power was enough to obliterate several trees at once.
Honhwi dodged the attack with ease.
This was not how the King of Birds had envisioned things.
Even for him, defeating the Little Dragon while conserving his own strength was a difficult task.
That was why he had tried to play psychological games, but they weren't working.
The Little Dragon he knew should have been thoroughly shaken by now.
Instead, he acted with the conviction that the small creatures in his territory were safe.
The King of Birds simply could not understand it.
Could he have already colluded with the Snake Queen?
Since the Snake Queen's companion had entered his territory, it wasn't an impossibility.
But that wouldn't guarantee the territory's safety.
The Snake Queen's companion was in the territory, not the Snake Queen herself.
Furthermore, he was in a state where one could assume he had lost most of his power due to his reduced size.
The Snake Queen could not enter the Little Dragon's territory.
Just as the King of Birds could not carelessly set foot there.
For her to intervene, she would have to send someone else in her stead.
The conditions were strict.
Even a follower of the Snake Queen's faith could not enter Honhwi's domain.
That was why the Human-faced Bird had sent the Megatherium, a monster, instead of a spirit beast.
He had subjugated it through brainwashing, not by making it a follower of the King of Birds' faith.
For the Snake Queen to interfere, she would have to use the same method as the Human-faced Bird.
But she lacked such a brainwashing ability, so it wouldn't be easy for her either.
In other words, it was safe to assume the Snake Queen would not be involved.
Then what on earth was that old lizard counting on?
"Do you truly believe that tiny creature can defeat that monster?"
There's a saying that you don't know until you try.
But this time, the difference was so stark that there was no need to even try.
At the Human-faced Bird's question, the Little Dragon simply grinned.
"Krrrrraaaaaa!"
With a single roar, the Little Dragon flew into the sky.
It was impossible for Honhwi, who had no wings or supernatural powers, to fly.
Little Dragon's Sky-Vaulting Steps.
A name meaning the steps of a small dragon leaping across the sky.
A downpour was conveniently falling.
Having reached the pinnacle of the Little Dragon's Sky-Vaulting Steps, the Little Dragon had leaped into the air, using the raindrops as footholds.
The King of Birds was stunned.
It would be one thing if he were using miniaturization, but how could he step on raindrops with that massive body?
His master was still as strong as ever.
But that didn't mean he was unbeatable.
SWOOOOOSH!
The King of Birds flew at high speed, evading the Little Dragon's attack.
CLAAAAANG!
Enough heat was generated to instantly evaporate all the surrounding raindrops.
The Little Dragon's Sky-Vaulting Steps could be countered using the destruction beam.
It put a slight strain on his body, but it eliminated any way for the Little Dragon to reach the Human-faced Bird.
Of course, if he leaped with an explosive burst of power, he might be able to reach, but the King of Birds wouldn't just stand by and watch that happen. He had already increased his altitude.
Neither had managed to inflict a fatal blow on the other. But there was no doubt that the longer the fight dragged on, the more it would favor the King of Birds.
The two combatants themselves knew this better than anyone.
Yet, the Little Dragon's spirit was unbroken.
If anything, he pressed his assault even more aggressively.
The Human-faced Bird's goal was to pin down the Little Dragon.
But ironically, the Little Dragon's goal was the same.
To pin down the King of Birds.
The King of Birds realized it.
That old lizard was convinced that the small creature could defeat the Megatherium.
"Do you really think that's possible?"
SHWIIIIIIK!
PABABABAT!
Hundreds of feathers shot out from the Human-faced Bird's massive wings.
Each one was like a giant hidden weapon.
PABAT!
CLAAAAANG!
On top of that, the Human-faced Bird added a destruction beam.
The Little Dragon barely managed to dodge the attack.
But the assault wasn't over.
WHOOOOOSH.
A massive tornado had formed right next to the Little Dragon.
The feathers that had been fired until now mixed with the tornado, creating a giant storm of blades.
There was no way to dodge this attack.
It was a tornado that moved according to the Human-faced Bird's will.
The Little Dragon chose not to evade the tornado.
Instead, he chose to leap toward the Human-faced Bird.
The battle was decided.
"You were careless!"
The King of Birds opened his mouth wide, preparing a destruction beam.
And it was at that moment.
Zap.
A sudden, head-splitting pain washed over him.
This was the backlash the King of Birds felt when a target he had brainwashed died.
Gush.
Instead of a destruction beam, crimson blood spewed from the Human-faced Bird's mouth.
The Little Dragon did not miss the opening.
The falling raindrops gathered around him.
The form of a giant dragon enveloped his body.
Little Dragon's Heaven-Ascending Strike.
KWAAAAAAAANG!
A strike concentrating all of Honhwi's formidable internal energy slammed into the King of Birds.
"Keoheok!"
The Human-faced Bird was sent flying far into the distance.
The King of Birds checked his condition.
His body was numb.
Was it because of the Little Dragon's strike?
No, that wasn't it.
The attack just now had been vicious, but it wasn't enough to fatally wound him, the King of Birds.
The reason he was injured despite that…
It was because the Megatherium had died.
"Geuheok…"
Blood poured from the King of Birds' mouth once more.
The Snake Queen's companion had foiled his plans yet again.
He had killed the spirit beast Gogadurisu, and now he had killed one of the few monsters he had.
He glared at the Little Dragon with eyes full of fury.
He wanted to kill that old lizard this very instant.
And in truth, he possessed the power to do so.
But it was a power he could not use carelessly.
If he used his full strength, the Snake Queen would immediately invade.
The spirit beasts he had painstakingly kept in check might also break free from his control.
"How dare you, how dare you…"
He suppressed his anger.
From a distance, the Little Dragon watched him.
He, too, knew that it would be difficult to defeat the Human-faced Bird.
He also knew that his opponent was conserving his strength.
So, he had given him a choice.
Would he use all his power here and be killed by the Snake Queen?
Or would he flee in disgrace?
"Kekekek!"
The Human-faced Bird's pale face turned red.
"...Consider yourself lucky."
He calmly composed his mind.
If he raged on as the Little Dragon intended, it would be the end.
He had suffered a small defeat.
The Megatherium had lost to the Snake Queen's companion.
But to let that turn into a major defeat was a choice only the lowest of the low would make.
It was time to admit defeat and withdraw.
Grind.
He clenched his teeth.
FLAP!
The King of Birds spread his wings and soared into the sky.
"Next time, I will truly kill you."
Those damned lizards.
The King of Birds decided to take a step back.
He flew toward his nest, already formulating a plan to eliminate the Snake Queen's companion, who had now become a variable.
*
What does leveling up mean?
【Gomodo-Lania LV7】
HP: 4420/4420
MP: 1120/1120
It means my body has recovered.
I waved my arm limply.
The broken bones had all mended, and the minor wounds had long since vanished.
Phew, that was a close call.
I felt this back when I was a gecko, but the effects of leveling up are seriously overpowered.
To think I could recover from such a major injury without a single scar.
Other creatures don't just heal when they level up, so this must be the power of the status window.
The thought of my enemies being able to heal like this is terrifying. My opponents must have felt the same way.
Of course, I couldn't control the timing of my level-ups, but just knowing I could recover my stamina after a tough battle increased my combat efficiency.
It meant I could engage in more dangerous and reckless fights than others without a second thought.
Even if my arm got cut off, as long as I won the battle, it would heal right back.
"Gekgegek…"
The geckos that had fled slowly approached me.
It seemed they hadn't gone far and had been watching the situation again.
I told them to run far away.
"Gekgek!"
Was it because they never doubted my victory?
"Gegegegek."
"Gigigik."
"Kiiik!"
Other lizards gradually gathered as well.
"Keeeeeng!"
They looked once at the fallen Megatherium, then back at me.
The lizards screamed as if they couldn't believe it.
"Gegegek!"
Among them, the geckos seemed excited, as if trying to explain the situation.
[Status: Gigantification is deactivated.]
Perfect timing, my gigantification wore off.
My body began to shrink.
"Gigigik!"
"Keeeeeng!"
The lizards now looked like they were about to faint.
I thought the effect of gigantification wasn't that great, but seeing it like this, the difference is pretty stark.
Of course, I was still the size of a Gomodo-Lania.
Anyway, to think the backlash of miniaturization is gigantification.
This seemed pretty good.
Doesn't this mean I can usually go around in a smaller size, then use the backlash to become even bigger than before to gain an advantage in battle?
Of course, I'd have to control the degree of shrinking.
And this is just my thought, but the longer I maintain miniaturization, the greater the backlash will probably be.
If I held my breath and maintained miniaturization for a year, I might become even bigger than the Snake Queen.
What about that old man Compy, then?
He looks ancient. It'd be a sight to see him deactivate his miniaturization.
"Geeeeng."
"Ke-ek!"
The lizards surrounded me, moving this way and that.
Looking closely, it seemed like they were dancing.
Yes, a strange dance similar to the one that old man taught me.
Ah.
I can feel it.
The divine power gathering.
I could feel the Little Dragon faith slowly changing into the Gaegaek faith.
Sorry, old man Compy.
But who told you to leave your post?
…
Wait, why is this old man so late?
Did he get into an accident on the way?
Sigh. Seriously, they can't do anything without me.
I don't know where he is, but I should probably go look for him.
[Your divine power has slightly increased.]
…But first, let me just gather the divine power these lizards are sending.
I'm not trying to be lazy; I just have to take care of business first.
And check if everyone's okay.
The old man will understand.
I felt a wave of drowsiness.
I'll go look for you in five minutes, old man.
"Kekekek!"
Has it been five minutes already?
Then just ten more minutes…
Huh?
"Gekgek?"
"Kekek!"
Those dazed eyes.
It was old man Compy.
He looks a little bigger than before, doesn't he?
Though he still hasn't outgrown the size of a lizard.
Good to see you, old man.
Do you know what's been happening while you were gone?
"Gegegek."
Just one look at the Megatherium's corpse over there should explain the situation.
…But why does the old man have that look on his face?
His face seems to have turned into a triangle.
Vicious.
That was the perfect word for his expression.
He glanced back and forth between me and the lizards dancing in a circle around me.
"Keeeeeeek!"
My divine power.
My faith.
That's probably what he was saying.
"Gekgek."
Sorry, old man.
These lizards just like me more.
Shhh-shhhk.
I shifted my dragon scales here and there, showing off my handsome lizard face.
"Kieeeek!"
The lizards went wild.
"Ke… ke-ek…"
Compy looked shocked.
Was losing his divine power to me that much of a shock?
I think I received a well-deserved reward.
If he wants, we can remain allies, just like with the Snake Queen.
"Keeeek!"
Compy glared at me.
That expression.
It didn't seem like he was angry about having his divine power stolen.
Then why was he so mad?
Flash.
I had a strange intuition.
I could feel the aura of a father-in-law who had just witnessed his only daughter's fiancé fooling around with other women.
Why is such a specific image popping into my head?
Is this a side effect of miniaturization?
I'm having some weird thoughts.
"Keeeeeeek!"
[The Little Dragon is enraged by your shameless behavior.]
[The Little Dragon declares he will never give you his daughter.]
…Why?