Just Ditch the Green!

The chimera had several noteworthy traits and skills. The 'Dragon Bloodline' must have come from using baby dragon blood in its creation. Even though it wasn't real dragon blood, it still granted the Dragon Bloodline trait.

That might satisfy one of my special evolution conditions: 'Consume dragonkin blood.'

Next up was the eye-catching 'Molting' trait. It hit me like a ton of bricks.

Why haven't I molted yet?

Snakes are reptiles, and reptiles obviously molt. So why hadn't I done it even once?

After a moment's thought, I reached a logical conclusion. I'd still been a hatchling. My evolutions had made me bigger, so I'd forgotten, but I'd only been born a little over a month ago. I might molt soon enough.

Still, the chimera proudly listed 'Molting' as a trait, much like how I had 'Horns' in mine. It must have some unique skill tied to molting.

And among its skills, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠'Rage Lv20'. What the hell? It was literally Rage—as in, going berserk. Level 20, no less. Skill levels apparently didn't always cap at 10.

There were plenty of other intriguing details, but going over them all would take too long.

I returned to my lair. I'd spent a few days in the swamp, but starting today, I was back at the hollow tree. In the clearing stood two crude wooden cross grave markers I'd made. For the kind-hearted newlywed couple who'd once made this their love nest.

Plop.

A bird perched on the tree shat right on top of one. That little shit.

I seemed doomed to bad blood with birds. I'd get revenge on that bird poop for sure.

Vowing as much, I slithered into the tree hollow. First things first, I needed sleep……

I didn't have wings, so catching birds was still high-difficulty. Sleep was essential. Especially for me—sleep wasn't just rest; it was a gateway to new opportunities, quite literally a status window of chances.

As I drifted off, a status message appeared before my eyes.

The thrill of seeing this message for the first time was still fresh. Back then, I'd basically yelled at the status window asking if I could evolve like a madman: 'Hell yes, of course! Heh heh.'

But now I was more cautious.

Three conditions for evolution, all of which I'd met long ago. I'd lined them up every time I hit Level 10, but damn, they were harsh. Without the cheat skill Borrowing Horn and the centipede couple's sacrifice, I never would've caught that cockatrice. Even with them, a head-on fight would've been impossible. It was the pit trap that did it. How else could a snake like me beat a dinosaur monster?

And that cockatrice's magic stone was Rank 2. Without it, even reaching Level 10 wouldn't have let me evolve. Hrm, wonder what the chimera's evolution conditions were like. With those +++ marks next to its level, it probably hadn't evolved in ages. Most monsters likely couldn't evolve as easily as me.

Facts are facts, and I'd met all the conditions. Last evolution, I hadn't seen the options until this point. I owed the centipede couple again—their inner cores let me see them now. The evolution choices!

Multiple choices this time! And info on them too. Was this from the inner cores? Even eating them, this level of detail felt odd. Still, no harm in being grateful.

Please, just ditch the green! I like white. This one's out.

Poison White Snake was out too, fitting its name—enhanced toxicity. Useful, but why ditch my horns? Without them, I'd just be another viper. Horns are my identity, my pride! Plus, I'd already upgraded my fangs to deadly venom with foresight.

The real temptations were below.

Special evolutions for the win. In Pellelian's dungeon, I'd learned about these. Number 3 was from fulfilling the swamp dwelling condition—got vague "super strong in swamps" perks. Pass.

Fun part: Not all special conditions were listed before. 4 and 5 proved it.

The description's tone was different—almost friendly. 'Pellelian's Temporary Lair' was definitely a dungeon, and clearing it must've been the condition.

Two horns, huh~ Borrowing Horn was my best skill. Another like it? Irresistible. Probably unlocked from mastering it.

Both 4 and 5 were tempting. That's where my dilemma came in.

Maybe I should just evolve now?

Did I really need to chase dragon blood and special conditions? I didn't know if anything beat Double Horn Snake. At my current strength, hunting the chimera seemed tough. Better to evolve first, power up, then hunt it. Safer.

Hrm.

After some thought, I decided. Fine. Observe a few more days. If no opening on the chimera, evolve then. Right?

I was the incarnation of rationality, that snake. Decision made.

And what did that choice yield? In short, postponing was right. Timing matters in this world. Choices ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠split infinite parallel worlds. Pick right at the fork for the good path. That's why rich couples dump kids in English preschools monthly—soft brains soak up multilingualism best.

Not that I spoke English. My TOEIC was shoe-size level, forced as hell.

My evolutions worked the same. They got harder each time. Had to grab those early branches while weak.

Sleepy. I'd set a three-day deadline for delaying evolution. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Observe the chimera for three days; if no way to kill it, evolve first.

That was the plan. Now it was day three.

My conclusion? Bleak. No opening. Couldn't take it solo. Maybe with allies.

Perched on a tree, I looked down at a monster corpse bleeding out below. Bait-wise, boars were best, but none today. Deer instead.

Don't picture cute Bambi—these had forked tongues and sharp fangs, carnivorous deer.

Anyway, it lay dead now, throat gushing blood.

Rumble rumble rumble—

Ah, chimera incoming from afar. It had figured out food waited here daily. I'd basically run a free cafeteria.

No food tomorrow—how'd it react? Tension gone, I shhh-shhh chuckled at the thought.

Looking up at the sky? Probably coincidence. Or was that a glint off armor?

Yeah—people on the cliff. Six or so, peering down, discussing descent.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Far off, but I recognized them instantly. One was my sworn enemy.

Guard Captain!

How many siblings had turned into grilled eels because of him? I'd sworn revenge, but not this soon.

Showing up on this vast cliff's exact side? Heaven's will? Or nah—straight shot from Medusa Mom's cave, so logical.

Brain spinning. This could be my variable. Just as I was giving up on chimera hunting, a game-changer dropped in.

"Can we descend here?"

Zain asked. The Guard Captain stroked his mustache.

"Yes, this must be where the pillar of light rose."

"……That's the third time you've said that."

"Ahem."

The Guard Captain cleared his throat. Competent soldier, but Akham Basin was over ten days away.

"Judging direction from vague reports wasn't easy."

"Yeah, well."

No helping it. The vivid pillar in the night sky vanished in under a minute. Getting here on that intel was impressive.

"Can you rappel down the cliff?"

"Trained for it. Of course."

Knight Zain, Guard Captain, and four elite soldiers with Great Forest experience. Small, but elite survey team.

As soldiers lowered ropes, the Guard Captain scanned below. A dead monster sprawled out. And……

"Hm?"

He frowned. Zain approached.

"A grotesquely shaped deer, dead. Monsters might be nearby."

"No…… not that."

Something white wriggled in the tree, or so he'd thought. The Guard Captain swallowed it. Must've been a mistake.