EP.23
【Arthropleura LV17】
【Status】
「Hunger」
__________________________
【Arthropleura】
This is the largest millipede, growing up to 2.6m in length, 55cm in width, and weighing up to 50kg.
It possesses a strong venom and prefers herbivory over carnivory.
__________________________
That was the fellow I saw when I first entered Silver Dragon Cave.
“Gekkeeeek!”
How did I not notice that guy?
Does it have some skill related to stealth?
“Saahhh!”
Return my kind centipede!
The millipede gazed at me with its beady eyes.
Its mouth twisted in a way that seemed distorted.
Is it smiling?
The millipede opened its huge mouth wide.
Inside was a centipede, reduced to a mushy mess.
Is that what you mean by your companion?
Though it didn’t speak, I could hear the sounds.
“Gekeeeeeek!”
You bastard!
I will not forgive you.
That centipede was the only sane creature I had met in this cave.
Chomp.
Chomp.
Swallow.
The millipede greedily devoured my kind centipede.
“Saaahhh!”
And then it let out a roar.
The air vibrated.
In the past, I surely would have fled.
But now, I could never back down.
“Geggegek!”
I puffed myself up as much as possible and faced it.
The size difference between us was enormous.
I could tell even without standing next to it.
How could I possibly defeat that giant over 2m tall?
I had no means to pierce that armored shell.
Right.
That was the past me.
With a powerful kick off the ground, I leaped as if to soar into the sky.
“Saahhh!”
It seemed caught off guard by my sudden charge.
If I attacked now, I could inflict damage.
No, I would hold back for a moment.
Swoosh!
The target I aimed for was the wall behind it.
That massive set of teeth whisked past me.
Had I directly charged at it, I would have taken that attack.
Kicking off the wall again, I dashed towards it.
This time it was real.
I spread my hands wide.
These are not just lizard hands.
Dragon’s Claw Technique.
My martial arts worthy of being called a dragon’s claw.
Swish!
I sliced through the enormous millipede’s shell.
“Kieeeek!”
It let out a roar, frustrated by the unexpected blow.
I can reach it.
Now, my attack lands on it.
But it’s not deep yet.
Moreover, I was still airborne.
For just a moment, you could consider me defenseless.
It knew that too.
Swoosh!
The giant creature charged at my position.
Even just grazing me would be a fatal march of armor.
I had to avoid it at all costs.
‘Tail Cut!’
With the severing of my tail, an incredible speed was granted to me.
But no matter how fast I became, I was still in midair.
It’s common sense that without something to step on, I couldn’t move.
“Geggek!”
What I gained through the tail cut wasn’t just speed.
The already severed tail became a perfect support.
Using the support, I leaped once more.
Crash!
The creature thrust its head as if to break through the cave wall.
Had it not been for my evasion, I would have been crushed right there.
I focused my mind.
My anticipated landing point was right in the middle of its back.
The advantage of the attack had shifted to me.
I aimed my head towards the ground and fast descended.
With sharpened claws, I gathered my hands.
Those sharp claws aimed at a single point.
Clash!
My claws collided with its armor.
Clank!
My claws tingled.
The same must be true for it.
The power of the Dragon’s Claw Technique. The speed gained from the Tail Cut. Plus the kinetic energy generated from falling from a height.
All of these combined make my attack impossible to dismiss.
Crack!
A fissure began to form in its tough armor.
It’s showing effects.
Pierce through!
Crack.
Boom!
Perhaps too focused on piercing its armor, I failed to evade the incoming tail attack.
As a result, I was sent flying several meters by its tail strike.
Swoosh!
Still, I managed to dig my claws into the ground and stop before crashing into the wall.
“Swaaaah!”
It seemed furious, exuding tremendous killing intent.
I couldn’t cut it in half.
However, it’s true that I dealt significant damage.
“Geggek.”
I stood on both legs.
Aiming with my claws, I waited for the perfect moment.
“Kieeeeeek!”
It seemed frustrated that it almost lost its life, thrashing its massive body around.
Bang!
Crash!
While it didn’t collapse the cave, the tremors felt quite threatening for a small lizard like me.
I need to finish this before it writhes any further.
Just as I charged at it, a hazy mist spread.
I could instinctively sense that it was toxic.
It’s only natural to realize that.
Some millipedes possess poison after all.
I hadn’t expected it to be used at this level, though.
“Keck!”
My legs wobbled.
It was hard to maintain balance with my incomplete tail.
The creature charged towards me.
Its strategy was to incapacitate me with poison and then crush me with overwhelming mass.
Impressive.
But…
“Geggek!”
I have the Ten Poison Immunity!
Kicking off the ground, I sprang upwards.
It thought I was poisoned, but instead, it smashed its head into the ground, and I seized the chance.
Crack!
The Fourth Technique of the Green Basilisk’s Dragon Claw Technique.
Hit where I struck before.
Crack!
Smash!
This time, I alternated my hands to land more strikes of the Dragon Claw Technique.
“Kieeeeeek!”
The giant millipede writhed in pain.
No, I should now call it a plaything.
“Gek!”
This is for the sole sane one, my centipede!
“Gek!”
This is for Tus and Pus!
“Geggek!”
And this is for Nephila Jurassica!
“Kekejkk!”
The millipede seemed to be suffering but also looked aggrieved, yet I ignored that.
I could feel its strength gradually waning.
The millipede hadn’t used poison from the start.
It was using the inefficient hunting method of simply ramming into me to see if it could overpower me.
What could be the reason for that?
Using poison at that level would exert more strain on its body, which is why it underestimated me and resorted to a head-on approach.
It looked visibly tired.
Now, it’s time to finish this.
I can’t end it so simply.
Pierce through the enemy’s head with five fingers.
I tightened my grip with my right hand and thrust forward.
Boom!
It shattered magnificently.
My fingers!
“Gek!”
Yikes, it’s incredibly tough.
Seems I’ve been cursed for trying to imitate something I haven’t even learned yet.
It looked at this as an opportunity, and its thrashing intensified.
Moreover, its body began to turn increasingly translucent.
So it did possess stealth after all.
If I had taken my time hunting, it could have turned out badly.
“Gek!”
I still have one hand left.
Crack!
With my other hand, I ripped at the hole I had just made.
Rip!
The millipede was split in half just like that.
Hoo.
It was not an easy opponent.
Had I not had Ten Poison Immunity, I surely would have lost.
The creature’s carelessness played a significant role.
It should have anticipated that there would be adversaries immune to poison.
It could have used its transparency technique from the beginning.
[Level up!]
[Level up!]
It was tough, but the rewards were sweet.
I leveled up by two levels in an instant.
[You have reached the maximum level.]
【Green Basilisk LV10(+)】
HP: 100/100
MP: 40/40
【Title】
「Beloved of Spiders」
If I hadn’t reached the maximum level, I surely would have leveled up a bit more.
But let’s not dwell on that.
Reaching the maximum level means…
[An extraordinary energy envelops your body.]
[Evolution is possible.]
This means I can evolve.
Finally, the time has come for my next evolution.
[Do you wish to evolve?]
If it were up to my heart, I would press accept right away, but the time isn’t right yet.
There are still things I need to do.
I approached the carcass of the millipede.
Hey, centipede, are you listening?
This is the elegy I send to you.
“Geggek.”
The millipede I encountered in the cave.
I don’t even know if it was female or male, and I hadn’t known it for very long, but it was the only light in this dark cave.
I will remember.
The remembrance has concluded.
Now it’s time to prepare for myself.
If Nephila Jurassica hadn’t provided me food during my last evolution, I would have undoubtedly starved to death.
…I’ve gained quite a lot.
I wonder how it’s faring.
Now, Nephila Jurassica is no longer by my side.
I must prepare my own food.
And conveniently, a massive piece of meat lay in front of me.
I dragged its carcass along.
Given its size, it was quite the struggle.
If I hadn’t cut it in half, moving it at all would have been impossible.
I maneuvered the carcass between stone pillars adorned with murals.
For some reason, the creatures in this cave seem reluctant to approach the green stone over there.
Moreover, being obscured by rocks and with poison emanating from the millipede carcass, most creatures wouldn’t dare venture close.
Unless they are immune to the poison, they would likely rather feast on the properly prepared millipede than go for the suspicious egg.
Now, all preparations are complete.
“Geggek.”
This adorable sound will soon be a farewell.
[Do you wish to evolve?]
Of course.
__________________________
【Green Basilisk】 can evolve into
1. 【Green Iguana】
2. 【Marine Iguana】
3. 【Large Armored Lizard】
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What are these plain lists?
Even games would get criticized for this palette swap to stretch the content.
No.
This list is merely for ordinary Green Basilisks.
What I’m aiming for is a special evolution.
Moreover, I have achieved quite a few requirements to qualify.
1. Pieces of Advanced Inner Dan
2. Martial arts, including Dragon’s Claw Technique
3. Survival in a dark cave
That should count as meeting the requirements.
Now, come forth!
[You have met the conditions for special evolution.]
That’s right.
Green Dragon, Green Hydra, Green Tyrannosaurus.
I want these unlocked quickly.
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【Green Basilisk】 can evolve into
1. 【Green Iguana】
2. 【Marine Iguana】
3. 【Large Armored Lizard】
4. 【Wombat】
5. 【Dimetrodon】
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…Huh?
Wombat?
Something even less plausible than a dragon just popped up.
And why is Dimetrodon here?
Isn’t it smaller than all of the previous four combined?
If that’s part of the evolution tree, wouldn’t I only see it for the next evolution?
I eyed the options.
Suspicious.
Very suspicious.
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