Special Chicken Skewers: What the Hell Is That Thing?
That special chicken skewer—what the hell was that creature? The head was awfully familiar. It was a rooster's, crest flapping bright red, eyes the very essence of a chicken's inscrutable gaze.
The body was a bit off, though. Feathers were patchy and sparse, revealing rough gray skin that evoked reptiles—dinosaurs, specifically. Chickens descended from dinosaurs, after all, so it fit. But the tail? It was just absurd. A blatant snake tail, long and writhing like a separate beast altogether. It looked like someone had stitched together parts from multiple creatures. And if only it had been chicken-sized—but no, it was way bigger than a human, with the bulk of a Hon Jaguar.
The real problem was its status window. Level 12. High levels didn't always mean strong monsters, but this one? Definitely powerful. Why? Because beyond the name, I couldn't read its status—like with Hon Jaguars and other heavy hitters. When you spot one of those, you run.
But Centipede Hubby didn't run. He charged the massive cockatrice, a hundred legs blurring in a sprint. He climbed its body and sank his fangs in. Impressive guts. Only one reason for that courage: his wife behind him, turned to stone.
I did what I could right away. Sorry, but I had to bite someone else's wife. Emergency and all. My fangs didn't pierce, but venom poured out—thicker and more potent than pre-evolution. It worked! Trusting past experience paid off. Color returned to Centipede Wife from the venom spot, slowly spreading. Maybe cockatrice and Medusa Mom shared petrification principles.
Kwajak. A nasty sound yanked my head around. I couldn't believe it—Centipede Hubby's body was bisected. The cockatrice had shredded him with its talons. Yet he lived, chasing to block it. But the cockatrice was too fast, barreling toward his stony wife—this way. Hubby's fangs weren't weak, but the cockatrice showed no slowdown. Poison resistance, obviously.
One stomp from those legs would flatten me. Our eyes met. Right—instinct screams run, so do the opposite. I charged it. My agility level had shot up, so I was pretty quick. The cockatrice screeched, "Kkieeeek!" A roar rivaling Hon Jaguar's, shaking the earth. What is this, a battle cry? You Recon or something?
Leap proficiency rises sharply.
Leap lv1 → Leap lv2
Skill 'Leap' fully acquired.
Borrowed skills could evolve? And now it was fully mine. But no time to celebrate—this wasn't easy mode. It pulled another Recon move: that massive beak snapping at me mid-air. I twisted like a dancer. Dodged the beak. Then—its golden eyes locked on mine.
Ah! Danger jolted through me. Medusa Mom petrified with a glance. Cockatrice had stoned Centipede Wife. I squeezed my eyes shut. Insane mid-fight, but no choice. Then stinging pain. I reopened them—its tail had grazed me, tipped with a sharp barb. You sneaky bastard... Snakes don't have tail stingers.
I thudded to the ground. Petrification crept in. Cockatrice didn't petrify with eyes—that was Mom's high-end trick. It slammed into Centipede Wife. Kwaaang! Worse than any car crash. Not fully depetrified, she shattered to pieces. The warm wife who'd traded frogs for relocation rice cakes—her pretty smile gone forever. Stone shards scattered.
The cockatrice, murderer of one centipede wife, ignored it and pecked the rubble like it sought something. And the widowed husband...
"Kkweeeeek!" A heartbreaking roar. Who says bugs lack emotion? This hubby clearly loved his wife. Half-bisected, he clung to the cockatrice. Stop! You'll die pointlessly! But the cockatrice ignored him. One couldn't beat what two couldn't. It pinned him easily under a heavy foot. No options left. Then the beak plunged like a guillotine.
That chicken head had brains. Beyond "kill and eat," it thought ahead. Instead of finishing Hubby, it severed all legs—and the deadly fangs. Fully disarmed, it gripped the centipede with its snake tail. And me too. Shit, why me? Doesn't it notice I'm here? Tiny compared to it, I got dragged along as it coiled Hubby.
Why not flee? Already petrified.
Petrification Resistance lv1
Got it fast. As Medusa Mom's heir, rightful successor, I'd hoped for immunity. Nope. Stung, I started turning to stone—but only to the neck. Maybe the venom gland in my head blocked it. Neck itched as petrification tried advancing.
Petrification Resistance proficiency rises sharply.
It'd wear off in time. For now, dragged along. Cockatrice lugged its trophy, sprinting like an ostrich—light-footed, head and tail steady. Decent ride. I eyed limp Hubby. Poor guy, mangled. Yellow fluids dripped from severed body and legs. Foam bubbled from his mouth. Glowing red eyes faded. Even tough monster life couldn't dodge death.
What tragedy at dawn. Pitied the dying hubby. Maybe not my place—I might be eaten next. But his gaze, failing revenge, was heartbreaking. Even bugs have hearts, it seems.
Ah, dawn breaking. Sky lightened. Cockatrice kept running. My petrification nearly gone. Drop and flee now? Then—Hubby twitched antennae at me. Froth spewed, and...
Something popped from his mouth.
...The inner core the couple made during their embarrassing romp. Did the cockatrice hunt this far for that? No clue. But why spit it up now? Giving it to me?
Hubby wiggled antennae. 'Yeah, for you.' I imagined. Truth unknowable. His body stiffened. Antennae drooped, eyes dimmed. Jaw slackened—
Thud. Core dropped. Instinctively, I snatched it. Can't waste it.
Tasted like centipede fluids. Salty tears from my eyes too—no, just more fluids.
Inner Core ingested.
No idea the effect, but I accepted it. Hot energy boiled in my gut.
Inner Core consumed. Presence elevated.
Now you can see more clearly, farther.
Underwhelming, I thought. Wrong. The couple's legacy gifted big.
I saw. Cockatrice's skills.
And more. This place...
What?! Dungeons exist here? Seeing cockatrice's skills meant I could borrow them. Spotting its weird hops over tiles, I borrowed Mana Sensing. Genius move, if mad. Confirmed it dodged glowing red tiles. And that massive stone door ahead? Handle glowed red. Straight for it!
Cockatrice chased in panic. Fast, but not enough. I had Leap. I vaulted, clamped the handle. Clank. Mechanism triggered. Cockatrice caught up—too late. Suspicious ceiling holes obvious. Spears rained.
Pubububuk! Spears riddled it. Feathers flew, thrashing tail smashed walls. Then it slumped, skewered. Ultimate chicken skewer—would shut down any shop.
Level increased!
Level increased!
Level increased!
Level increased!
I dropped the handle, thudded down. Glanced at shattered Centipede Groom.