The Law of Might
Any other beast would have simply closed its eyes or lazed around aimlessly, but Jekyeong was different. When he was hungry, he was no different from any wild animal, but once his belly was full, he exercised a reason that set him apart from them. Though he was somewhat lacking compared to his past life as a human, he was undeniably different from an ordinary beast. He believed he needed to do something constructive with this spare time.
Now living his second life as a serpent, Jekyeong had only one goal: survival. While preserving one's life was a natural instinct for any living creature, Jekyeong's will to live far surpassed mere instinct. Having already experienced death once, he knew exactly how horrific it was. Would there be a third life after this second one? There was no way to know. But even if there were, he did not want to die. Though the memory had faded into a distant, vague blur, the horror remained carved into his soul like a massive scar, striking him with absolute terror whenever he recalled it. I don't want to die. Therefore, he had to improve. He had to increase his chances of survival. In other words, he had to become stronger.
Then, how could he become stronger? For now, only one method came to mind: becoming a demon beast. According to Cheongo, a demon beast was the result of an ordinary animal transforming. Judging by the bird's vague explanations and the two demon birds he had seen the previous day, the term "evolution" seemed far more fitting than a simple transformation. It felt less like a beast merely gaining spiritual intelligence to become smarter, and more like a fundamental shift in the species itself. If a beast gaining spiritual intelligence made it a demon beast, did that make Cheongo one as well? No. Cheongo certainly had his unique traits, but he felt entirely different from the demon birds Jekyeong had seen the day before. Above all, Cheongo himself had denied it.
“I am no demon beast.” A deep yearning had lingered in those words.
Jekyeong had asked how one could become a demon beast just in case, but Cheongo had claimed not to know. With his sharp senses and keen intuition, Jekyeong had noticed a slight hesitation in the bird's reply, but he chose not to show it. Everyone had their secrets. They had not yet built enough mutual trust to bare their souls to one another. Jekyeong had no desire to press the issue and risk losing the excellent business partner he had been lucky enough to find.
After finishing his meal and filling his belly to a comfortable degree, Jekyeong sought out the smallest tree nearby. Even though it was the smallest, it was still thick enough that his body—now over three meters long—could barely wrap around slightly more than half of it.
Hngh. Coiling his entire body around the trunk, Jekyeong began to apply pressure, awkward as it was. He squeezed the tree with all his might, releasing his grip only when he could no longer sustain the effort. Once his strength returned, he did it again. After repeating this several times, his body felt stiff, and his stomach felt a bit emptier.
“What are you doing?” Cheongo flew over and asked, his tone dripping with curiosity. This alone proved the bird was remarkably perceptive. He had kept his distance while Jekyeong was concentrating, only approaching to ask once it seemed over. He was definitely different from your average birdbrain.
“I'm exercising.”
“Exercising?”
“Yes.”
Cheongo understood the concept of exercise, but he couldn't grasp why Jekyeong had to do it. Growing annoyed by Cheongo's incessant chattering, Jekyeong gave a simple reply: “To get stronger.”
“Get stronger? You get stronger if you exercise?”
“Of course you do.”
In truth, he didn't actually know. The idea that exercising builds muscle and improves physical ability to make one stronger was merely a hypothesis based on the knowledge and experience of his past life. Yes, a hypothesis. While the physical laws of this world seemed identical or similar to his previous one, Jekyeong had already seen a monster straight out of a kaiju movie poster and the superhuman who defeated it with a single companion. He couldn't be sure of anything. He was simply grasping at straws because doing nothing was not an option.
“Then I want to do it too! How do I do it?”
How? Jekyeong stretched his stiff, aching body and swept his gaze over Cheongo. What kind of exercise could a bite-sized little bird even do?
“Just... fly around. Until you're tired.”
It was a half-hearted answer, but he really couldn't think of anything else. Yet, Cheongo rejoiced as if he had received some profound enlightenment and immediately soared high into the sky. Watching him go with a mix of guilt and amusement, Jekyeong resumed his workout.
He knew next to nothing about his own species. Aside from his size, his appearance was identical to a snake from his previous world, but his internal anatomy, habits, and other characteristics were not the same. He had no idea how effective this exercise would be. Perhaps it would have no effect at all, but even if that were the case, it didn't matter. Jekyeong knew that what he needed most right now was peace of mind. Even a false hope was fine, so long as it could soothe his restless heart.
Though he had started it merely for peace of mind, to his delight and astonishment, the results began to show in just a few days. The tree he used for practice began to wobble after a mere two days. Startled, Jekyeong moved to another tree further away. A day later, the first tree, which had been swaying precariously, finally came crashing down with a loud thud. Two days after that, the second tree met a similar fate. This was despite the second tree being noticeably thicker and sturdier than the first.
By this point, Jekyeong was certain his strength had increased. If it were just a feeling without proof, he might have dismissed it as his imagination, but he now had two massive pieces of evidence. It was undeniable. It wasn't a waste of time! Jekyeong's heart swelled with excitement. Motivation was now added to the workout routine he had previously maintained through sheer willpower alone.
While it was wonderful to see such clear results and feel his resolve solidify, nothing in life came without a cost. The exercise made him stronger, but it also made him hungry much faster. In the past, unable to cope with the constant hunger, he would have spent most of his day hunting and minimized his activity during his spare time. But things were different now. His reliable business partner had boosted his hunting efficiency to an absurd degree. In the time it would have taken him to barely manage a single hunt before, they could now pull off five or six. Even though he spent his time exercising and emptying his stomach, he was far more prosperous and at ease than before. Thus, day by day, time flowed on.
A beast that looked like something between a bear and a dog pounced with agile speed, only to be struck by a long, thick tail and sent flying. Jekyeong glided silently toward the squirming creature. The impact on his tail had felt heavy. At least a couple of its bones were definitely broken.
Crunch! He bit down on the thrashing beast's neck, putting it out of its misery. There was no need to thrash it around or sink his fangs in multiple times. A single, powerful bite was more than enough. It had been about two months since he began his prosperous partnership with Cheongo, and Jekyeong was experiencing the true meaning of a growth spurt. His body had grown so much that he estimated his length to be nearly ten meters now. His girth had thickened proportionally as well. Had he only gained size? Not at all. He had not missed a single day of his tree-squeezing routine, nor had he slacked on his tail-striking. The fruits of his labor were on full display now. He actually had to control his strength when dealing with ordinary beasts. If he went all out, he might not just shatter their bones—he might make their entire bodies explode.
This was no exaggeration. A few days ago, he had whipped a ferocious badger with all his might, only for the creature's body to burst apart. He had been forced to search all over for the dirt-covered chunks of meat scattered in every direction. It had not been a pleasant experience. Although he had grown accustomed to eating meat regardless of what was smeared on it, the lingering habits of his past life made him prefer his food clean if possible.
Cheongo, on the other hand, looked like a creature that would delicately peck at a few clean fruits, yet his appetite was more voracious than that of a wild boar. He devoured absolutely everything without complaint. It went beyond a simple hearty appetite; he ate as if driven by some deep-seated sorrow.
“I like meat too. But I couldn't eat it.”
Though the bird rambled a bit, the gist of it was that he lacked the ability to hunt proper prey. Just as Jekyeong had previously suspected, while Cheongo possessed a striking appearance and remarkable intelligence, his actual combat capability was practically nonexistent. He was perfectly suited for plucking small berries or pecking at insects, but hunting beasts with substantial meat was far beyond his reach.
“Big snake! Kind snake! Strong snake!”
Because of his limitations, Cheongo had previously been forced to scavenge the leftovers of other predators to taste meat, and even then, he had to fight off other scavengers. Compared to those grueling days, his life had taken a turn for the luxurious. Thus, just as Jekyeong was highly satisfied with their partnership, Cheongo was bound to be even more thrilled.
Furthermore, the offhand advice Jekyeong had given turned out to be surprisingly effective. Cheongo's size had increased slightly. While “slightly” was by Jekyeong's standards, for Cheongo, it was a highly tangible change. He hadn't done anything extraordinary; he had simply flown around diligently after meals, yet his body had grown, and his strength had increased. Jekyeong assumed it was due to proper nutrition, but to Cheongo, it was a miraculous transformation. Naturally, the subtle wariness the bird had harbored began to fade significantly.
“I told you to call me Jekyeong.”
“Yes. Jekyeong.”
A span of over two months was by no means short. Hunting together several times a day had naturally brought them closer. Moreover, Cheongo was the very first being Jekyeong had met in this world with whom he could communicate. Even in an environment where survival was a constant struggle, loneliness would occasionally creep in. To him, Cheongo was not only a capable business partner but also a source of emotional support. That was why he had shared his name. Being called Jekyeong made him feel as though he truly existed in this place.
“Jekyeong. Jekyeong. Jekyeong.”
Cheongo repeated the name several times as if determined never to forget it again. However, Jekyeong knew that unless the bird made a conscious effort, he would go right back to calling him “snake.” The fellow was undoubtedly intelligent, but perhaps because he was still a bird at heart, his birdbrain tendencies would slip through in certain areas.
Grrr!
Right in the middle of their meal, a beast drawn by the scent of blood made its presence known with a heavy, ragged breath. It resembled a jaguar, but it was massive, with two iron-like horns protruding from its head. Radiating a ferocious aura, it clearly had no intention of backing down.
“Jekyeong! Jekyeong! Fight?”
It was admirable that he had used his proper name, but Jekyeong had no time to praise him now.
“Yes.”
Jekyeong narrowed his eyes at the beast, which showed no intimidation whatsoever despite his massive size. It wasn't as if this had never happened before. Most wild beasts had an excellent sense of smell, and a few particularly keen ones would show up almost immediately after a hunt. However, in the animal kingdom, the law of might is absolute, and size equals power. Once Jekyeong reared his body up, few dared to stand their ground. But “few” meant there were still occasional exceptions. Like the beast before him now.
“Grrrrrr...”