The Fall of the Gray Killer Wolf

Wise Scale had said.

Wait until the bastard gets drunk on victory and lets his guard down completely.

He's clever, but also arrogant. The moment his vigilance loosens the most is right after victory.

That's when the perfect chance to take him down would come.

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

Wise Scale had also said.

Strike when there are no other wolves around him.

If there are wolves guarding him nearby, they'll charge recklessly to protect their leader, no holds barred. In that situation, there's no way to properly deal with him.

Truly, Wise Scale lives up to his name as a wise monster.

I agreed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠with all his advice.

That's why I'd stayed silent, watching the situation until now, hiding my body and holding my breath.

I am utterly cold, rational, and logical.

So the reason I'm moving now is simply because the time has come.

No other motives.

"Grraaaargh──!!!"

Stealth and Ambush.

No need to explain—the optimized hunting method that's become second nature to me.

Just like before, my fluid motions caught him completely off guard, unable to even respond properly.

-Shaaa───

I wrapped him ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠tight with Constrict as he thrashed with all his might. Through my jaws sunk into his neck, I poured out endless Extreme Poison.

His struggles grew more frantic.

"Kuh, keng─!!"

"Keng─!! Keng!!!"

The other wolves panicked at the sight of me suddenly assaulting their leader.

A few lunged at me, but with their leader already entangled with me, they couldn't attack recklessly.

One wrong move, and they'd hit their own leader too.

'I've been aiming for this from the start.'

Still keeping my jaws clamped on his neck, I turned my gaze to the wolves.

Intimidation activated naturally.

The wolves hesitated and backed off under the sudden pressure.

Some were too busy tucking their tails between their legs.

"Grraaaargh──!!!"

The one coiled around me let out a roar-like wail.

For a split second, a sharp aura prickled across my entire body.

No, my whole body was actually prickling.

It wasn't from his roar—it was because he was thrashing desperately to break free.

The pressure was so intense I wondered if my body might tear apart.

'You think I'm letting you go?'

Facing him head-on, I could clearly feel it now.

We were both D-rank, but there was a clear difference in our power.

The gap between me, freshly D-rank, and him, who'd been D-rank for a while.

If I released him, a frontal clash afterward would offer no chance of victory.

And the watching wolves would swarm me the moment I did.

'I'll hold on until you die...!'

Sha───!!

I clenched my jaws sunk into his neck even harder.

Every muscle in my body squeezing him tightened further.

His struggles intensified even more.

Training my mana had taught me something.

I'd thought mana was just power for magic, but experiencing it showed otherwise.

Mana wasn't limited to magic.

Circulating it through my body strengthened my physical form.

Just a day ago, realizing that was when I began my revenge.

Not fully proficient yet, but with prior success, the mana flowed through me without much trouble.

My already strained muscles clamped down even harder.

Honestly, the pain felt like my body was about to snap, but I didn't stop.

I knew even a moment's hesitation would let his thrashing tear me apart.

Ignoring the alerts in my ears, I tightened my whole body even more against his worsening struggles.

"Kruuung─!! Grraaaargh───!!!"

He wailed loudly.

Unlike his previous rage-filled cries, this one carried a faint trace of fear.

Only then did the wolves, who'd been dazed watching the dire situation, finally move.

They must have decided eliminating me was priority, even if it hurt their leader.

Foolishly, too late.

By now, his bones and organs were probably crushed from the constriction. Even a frontal fight, I'd win easily.

Plus, poisoned to the hilt with my Extreme Poison, he wouldn't last even if I released him now.

But that didn't mean I'd just take the wolves' attacks lying down.

I swung my relatively free tail at the approaching ones.

Tail Strike.

Low rank compared to my other skills, but its power was nothing to scoff at.

Thwack─

One wolf hit by my tail slammed into a distant tree.

The others approaching hesitated at the fierce impact.

I hit them with Intimidation again.

Nearly all tucked their tails.

With that, I could focus fully on the one pinned beneath me.

Time to end it.

While I handled his minions briefly, he was already faltering.

Twitching sporadically with belated struggles, but without his previous strength.

I realized naturally.

I'd won.

But no letting my guard down.

I kept tension until his breath fully stopped.

Squeezing even harder.

His body convulsed in spasms.

The faint heartbeat went thump─ still.

Slowly, I pulled my jaws free.

Revenge complete.

I skimmed the rather lengthy alerts and scanned my surroundings.

The wolves were peeking at me warily, tails tucked.

"Shaaa───!!!"

"Kyaak─!"

The wolves fled into the forest without looking back.

I watched their retreating forms for a moment, then turned away.

The fallen Lizardmen came into view.

Four survivors.

Six dead, and the survivors all badly injured.

Nothing I could do for them right now.

Their wounds would have to heal with their own abilities.

But I couldn't just send them off like this.

I wanted to escort them, but my body wasn't in great shape either.

In the end, I decided to invite them to my lair.

The first monsters to step into my lair.

I didn't mind, but why were they refusing so much?

With faces pale as ghosts, they needed rest soon.

I decided to push myself and take them there.

So no need to refuse like that?

Before heading back, I devoured his corpse.

Big guy, but no issue.

Gluttony forever.

The moment we arrived at the lair, all four passed out.

Wounds worse than I thought.

Nothing I could do, so I laid them in a spot to rest.

Hoping their healing was better than I expected.

Exhausted physically and mentally myself, I rested immediately.

Detailed gains tomorrow.

Day 117 ended.

Day 119 of survival.

Slept a full two days.

More strain than I thought.

Forcing unfamiliar mana probably inevitable.

Thanks to Super Regeneration, wounds healed clean as always.

But the Lizardmen's wounds weren't fully healed.

Still bad color—needed special measures.

Alright. Call Wise Scale.

Some wolf remnants in the forest, but after the thrashing I gave them, no one to stop Lizardmen entering.

I'll be back soon, so wait quietly.

No need to grab me like that?

Hey, even when I'm back quick?

Why do these guys cling to me so?

Scared of Wise Scale or something?

Pretty urgent, so unlike usual, full speed to the Lizardmen village without hunting.

They greeted me with their usual respect.

Ignoring that, I grabbed Wise Scale and headed out.

Destination: my lair, naturally.

Hey, Wise Scale.

Why the long face?

During the trip, I learned.

From the Lizardmen's view, beaten badly by the queen, my lair was no different from hell on earth.

The mana swirling around terrified them.

That's why Lizardmen never meddled much near my lair.

Felt a bit bad for them.

Guilty consci—wait, snakes have no conscience.

Anyway, back at the lair, handed the Lizardmen to Wise Scale.

They burst into tears in his arms the moment they saw him.

First time seeing monsters cry.

That rough, huh...?

Sorry....

Wise Scale healed their wounds—not magic, more like shamanism.

Mana gathered, turned green light, seeped into the wounded.

Soon, wounds clean.

Pretty amazing.

Asked if I could learn; he said yes.

But requires bone-grinding effort and talent.

Explained at length....

Honestly, didn't understand a word.

Decided to learn later if chance comes.

For now, Lizardmen heading home today.

Bade farewell to my battle comrades.

Until next time.

Alone in the lair again. Always cozy.

Hell to Lizardmen, but paradise to me.

Coiled comfortably, finally checked my status window.

- Name: Yu Jun-young (?)

- Race: Monster - Brutal Snake ▶ View Details

Lots of changes.

Too many to know where to start.

Stats rose across the board, big time.

Most skills leveled up a step, except a few.

Standouts: new Thought Acceleration and Body Reinforcement.

'Thought Acceleration seems like when the world slows sometimes. Body Reinforcement is the mana strengthening.'

Both good skills.

'Problem is, why's Durability highest...?'

Agility was top recently, but Durability overtook it somehow.

'Did I take that many hits...?'

High stats are good, but... feels a bit unfair.

Checked status thoroughly like always. Huge gains.

Pure joy.

But not entirely satisfied....

'Kinda hollow.'

Despite achieving the revenge I'd craved, it didn't hit deep.

Even after fierce effort.

'Not totally hollow, definitely happy.'

Felt accomplishment, but something missing.

Revenge drive weakened?

'No.'

Still burning hot for Shin Jae-jun, Lee Ha-na, Kim Jun-su.

Even pondering better revenge methods.

'Then, no more enemies to hate here...?'

The only rival in this forest was the Gray Killer Wolf.

Lizardmen had three more D-ranks, but our relation was more ally than foe.

I must have realized subconsciously when killing him.

No more opponents in this forest.

Hence the emptiness.

Wolf remnants left, but they'd flee at my shadow.

Other E-ranks weren't opponents even before growth.

Now, less so.

Yes.

No enemies left in this forest to match me.

Should be thrilled.

Back when I first became a snake, this was my desperate wish, right?

No one to touch me.

Yet, achieving that early dream brought no joy.

No, no need for such thoughts now.

Revenge success day, after all.

Just enjoy today.

Day 119 ended.