The Pack Leader's Demise
Day 110 of survival.
Learning about mana didn't mean I could cast spells right away.
Honestly, when Wise Scale was teaching me, I'd hoped I could use magic immediately, but unfortunately, that wasn't possible.
According to Wise Scale, everything I'd learned so far was just the basics. Only after enduring bone-grinding effort would I barely touch the fringes of magic.
Even Wise Scale, who taught me, could only use three or four spells. That showed just how arduous the path ahead would be.
It was no wonder—even the so-called elite hunters could wield only a tiny fraction of magic.
My longing for magic burned even hotter.
Returning to my nest, I could definitely sense something different from before.
I'd vaguely thought the air around the surrounding forest felt a bit off, but the air in my nest was starkly different from the forest's.
To be precise, the mana permeating the air was completely unlike anything else.
Extremely heavy and ferocious, one might say?
I could see why no other monsters had dared approach this area until now.
The mana was so dense it was ridiculous I hadn't noticed it sooner.
This must be the sanctuary the Venom Viper Queen had personally created, just as Wise Scale described.
The mana filling the nest was incredibly savage and violent, yet it had no effect on me.
If anything, it felt incredibly welcoming and cozy.
Once again, my respect for my biological mother deepened.
Mother... what in the world are you...?
That day, I holed up in the nest and devoted myself entirely to mana training.
Before getting revenge on those wolf bastards, I needed to fully make this new gain my own.
Time to train hard.
Day 112 of survival.
Mana training is incredibly grueling.
It doesn't tire the body, but the mind? That's another story.
After training mana all night upon returning to the nest, I passed out for a full day.
Good thing the nest was safe—if I'd trained like that outside, I would've keeled over dead.
I'll have to be more careful from now on.
I discovered a new effect of Gluttony.
It can store the calories (energy) from everything I've eaten so far.
Sure enough, even after starving since returning to the nest, I felt no hunger.
Gluttony truly is an amazing skill.
I'm thrilled.
Day 114 of survival.
To celebrate Mana Manipulation reaching F-rank, I headed out for real combat.
My opponent was a lone Silent Wolf separated from its pack.
I hadn't hunted them for a few days, so their guard seemed to have slipped—solitary stragglers were starting to appear.
Not sure about them, but for me, it was perfect timing. A sandbag... no, a practice dummy.
I tormented it mercilessly.
Results confirmed.
Mana grows dramatically not just through repetitive training, but through actual combat.
I'll focus on real battles for a while.
Day 116 of survival.
Maybe because there'd been no growth for so long, my mana stat's progress feels dazzling.
While other stats didn't budge a single point, mana alone surged ahead.
Of course, with the rank difference, it was to be expected—but I couldn't hide my joy.
I get how parents feel watching their troublemaking kid finally shape up.
For some reason...
That day, Mana Manipulation reached E-rank.
The mana stat itself was still F20, but for now, this is plenty.
It's about time.
Time for revenge on those wolf bastards.
Day 117 of survival.
The day I'd promised Wise Scale in advance.
Since the monster Wise Scale didn't grasp human time sense, I'd told him to move when the sun had set and risen seven times.
The exact time: when the sun hung highest in the sky. High noon.
I got moving early to match.
At high noon, as promised, the lizardmen appeared.
The forest erupted in chaos instantly.
Well, only for the wolves.
"Zzaaah!!"
"Zzeu—aa!!"
The lizardmen who showed up numbered barely thirteen.
Compared to the wolf pack—still over forty strong even after I'd killed nearly twenty—it was laughably few.
Not enough for a proper fight.
But that was fine.
The lizardmen's goal was just to stir up a ruckus and draw attention.
A patrolling wolf pack ran into them, turning the area into pandemonium in seconds.
"Zz—zzaaah!!"
"Kyeng! Kyeng—!!"
The first clash between lizardmen and wolves was, predictably, a one-sided lizardmen dominance.
I didn't even need to lift a scale—they handled the wolves with practiced ease.
Even at the same E-rank, wolves couldn't stand against lizardmen wielding spears and shields.
The wolves' combat power ranked mid-to-low even among E-ranks.
But the wolves' real strength wasn't individual prowess—it was their pack mentality.
"A—woooo—!!"
"Awoooo——!!!"
One let out a mighty howl, and soon echoes came from deep in the forest.
They were using howling, which they never did during the day.
My tongue, sharpened by mana training, detected the forest's shift instantly.
Dozens of presences converging at once.
"Awoooo——!!!"
"Awo—!!"
The wolf pack assembled in the blink of an eye.
Nearly thirty strong.
And more were racing from the distant woods, so the full count would easily top forty or fifty.
No matter how tough the lizardmen were, they couldn't overcome that numerical disadvantage.
Yet the lizardmen showed no fear.
"Zz—aaah—!!"
"Zz—zzaaah!!!"
They raised their spears and shields high, flaunting their valor.
The wolves faltered for a moment at their momentum.
It's midday with the sun high, but that's from our perspective. To them, it's like the dead of night.
A sudden night raid.
They had sentries, sure—but proper response? No chance.
If it were their leader, the Gray Killer Wolf, maybe. But regular Silent Wolves? Chaos.
Indeed, despite the wolves' superior numbers, the lizardmen's ferocity pushed them back.
Of course, this momentum won't last.
Right now, they're just reeling from the surprise attack. Once real fighting starts, it'll swing to the wolves.
And if their leader steps in, the tide turns without a blow.
"Kyeng—."
A short bark. The hesitant wolves snapped to attention.
As if their earlier cowering was a lie, they puffed up and advanced boldly.
He'd arrived.
Thud, thud—
With a leisurely gait, a dull gray wolf twice the size of the others strode forward.
Without any special action, the lizardmen—who'd been boasting their bravery—now hesitated in turn.
The gap between E-rank and D-rank.
No warrior lizardman, no matter how brave, could stand unbowed before it.
Gray Killer Wolf.
The beast surveyed the lizardmen with a casual glance.
Then, with a mocking "Kyeng—," as if asking, That's all you got?
Enraged by the taunt, the lizardmen thrashed their tails threateningly.
Though they flinched at his light bark soon after.
"Kyeng—."
As if he had no need to fight personally, he nodded lightly at the lizardmen.
The other wolves surged forward.
At this rate, the lizardmen were doomed to struggle.
...Not time to move yet.
Wise Scale said the wolves' king—the Gray Killer Wolf—had exceptional detection skills.
Even with my top-tier Stealth, he'd sniff me out quick.
So, wait until the battle intensifies, he advised. Until the scent of blood numbs his nose.
Meaning, accept some lizardmen casualties.
A steep price for them, but for me? No downside.
It wasn't entirely comfortable, though.
First act of kindness since becoming a snake (monster).
I knew their goodwill wasn't purely selfless.
It stemmed from fear and dread of my mother, the queen.
Still, this proposal was a genuine favor from my view. No way I'd let it slide unpaid.
I'll repay favors tenfold, a hundredfold.
A vow I made upon becoming a snake.
This, I would absolutely keep.
And so, battle between lizardmen and wolves erupted.
The lizardmen fought valiantly.
Even with their leader looming behind the wolves, they didn't cower—fought fiercely.
Despite the numbers, they held their ground.
"Grrrh—."
Suddenly, an irritated growl echoed.
A few fallen wolves had displeased him.
At that small growl, the lizardmen hesitated.
The balance tipped in an instant.
"Kruuung—!!!"
One wolf charged savagely, toppling a front-line lizardman.
Another lizardman speared it, but the formation was crumbling.
"Zz—aaah!!!"
"Kruuung—!!"
"Kyeng—!!"
The lizardmen lines broke, descending into melee chaos.
Lizardmen and wolves tangled everywhere.
More like three or four wolves per lizardman.
Blood sprayed, dust flew.
Thick blood-scent filled the forest.
"Zz... zzaaah—!!!"
"Zzeuaah...!!"
Thud—thud—lizardmen fell one by one.
Wolves pounced on the downed.
Blood and flesh sprayed.
"Kyeng—."
With the tide turned, the Gray Killer Wolf barked in satisfaction.
He rose, assuming it was over.
And that's when I moved.
-Shaaaaa──!!!
With a savage hiss, I lunged.
Muscles coiled tight exploded forward, jaws wide for his nape.
The world slowed.
I saw him whirl in panic at the surprise attack.
His one remaining eye shook with unease.
Crunch——
My jaws clamped his neck.