EP.21
“Little lizard. Do you understand now?”
Baek Yeon-Young stood over the puddle of blood, looking down at me with dignity.
“It goes without saying, but your body is different from that of a human. The martial arts mind techniques created by humans don’t suit you. The same applies to martial arts.”
She exuded a truly imposing presence, akin to that of a master.
“Follow what I’ve shown you, but make it your own.”
In a nutshell, it was incredible.
My eyes sparkled involuntarily.
[You have acquired the “Dragon Claw Technique.”]
Oh my, the Dragon Claw Technique.
I had been longing to learn an offensive technique, but this woman gifted it to me.
I apologize for disparaging the Shaolin masters without their knowledge.
I really like that headbutting dinosaur.
Seeing Baek Yeon-Young’s luxurious hair, it seemed like cultivating the Dragon Claw Technique wouldn’t cause side effects like hair loss. I could use it with peace of mind.
Moreover, the Nine Yin White Bone Claw that Baek Yeon-Young had demonstrated.
It could truly be seen as a masterful martial art.
She killed that gigantic white snake in one strike.
I spread my front paw a little.
Could I become strong like her if I mastered that?
Of course, it wasn’t possible to replicate the Nine Yin White Bone Claw just because I saw it once.
Still, I managed to learn the Dragon Claw Technique.
Having fought that small snake and witnessed its perfected form with my own eyes, I had a better grasp of it.
I was certain that if I put in the effort, I too could use the Nine Yin White Bone Claw someday.
Both the Dragon Claw Technique and the Nine Yin White Bone Claw required hand gestures for their execution.
If I trained with the Dragon Claw Technique at its core, I could become strong like Baek Yeon-Young.
“Dragon Claw Technique.”
A technique that snatches opponents with the claws of a dragon. It mixes the essence of multiple techniques, allowing for adaptability in any situation.
Now this is martial arts.
Sure, the Rising Dragon Hopping Technique was also a good martial art, but since it was a footwork technique, I felt a bit disappointed.
Finally, I had a genuine offensive technique.
The claw of a dragon.
Isn’t that just me?
I possess the dragon’s footsteps and the dragon’s claws.
I was seriously worried that I might evolve from a Green Basilisk into a Green Dragon.
“Gek gek….”
“Are you listening to me?”
I am listening.
The Dragon Claw Technique is an amazing martial art.
I felt an emotion similar to what I experienced when I first saw a dinosaur.
The difference is that I almost died back then, and now I’m alive thanks to that martial art.
With a sigh, Baek Yeon-Young lightly extended her hand.
Whoosh.
Flames erupted from her hand.
Having demonstrated that much internal energy, it would be reasonable to assume that the fire was a manifestation of the Primal Transformation.
Primal Transformation.
That was yet another illuminating piece of information.
If I could learn to control that, I could cook with fire, right?
I might even evolve into something like a Salamander.
…But would such a thing even exist in a martial arts world?
Suddenly, why did she bring that up?
Was she planning to grill that snake meat?
Fire-cooked meat, so she knows how to enjoy life.
I should stick close and snag a few pieces.
Baek Yeon-Young placed her hand on the corpse of the Titanoboa.
Whoosh.
The flames of Primal Transformation ignited on the Titanoboa’s body.
The fierce flames engulfed the Imugi.
…This wasn’t for cooking.
“Gegegegek!”
Why would she burn such a precious thing!?
The flames were purely destructive.
The level of the Titanoboa was an impressive 50.
Moreover, it had evolved in that state.
Even eating a piece of that meat would make me incredibly strong.
It was akin to a level-up candy that one might find in a game.
I quickly dashed over to Baek Yeon-Young.
“Gek gek.”
No matter what I said, she didn’t look at me.
I had no choice but to gently brush my tail against her thigh.
“Little lizard. What’s wrong?”
Baek Yeon-Young suddenly looked at me.
I flinched at her gaze.
Honestly, I was afraid of this woman.
Anyone possessing such strength would be frightening.
To be frank, in terms of sheer power, she was closer to a celestial being than the Cayman or Titanoboa.
Yet, the Titanoboa’s meat was far too precious to give up.
If it was going to be burned anyway, it was a shame to lose such a high-quality cleaning service right here.
I was small, but I was confident I could eat it all.
I vigorously waved my tail.
Maybe she’d throw me a piece of that meat.
This wasn’t the time to worry about pride.
Tap tap tap.
“Are you asking for that to eat? The meat of an Imugi is inedible. Especially for one who has failed to become a dragon.”
I was fine with my special constitution, the “Ten Poisons Immunity.”
…But maybe that wouldn’t work after all?
Reluctantly, I began to suck on my fingers.
The power of Primal Transformation was indeed remarkable.
If it were an ordinary flame, it would have taken a long time to burn that massive body, but it quickly turned to ashes.
Among those ashes lay a large orb.
It looked so familiar.
A black sphere mixed with white.
[Supreme Inner Core]
Inner Core. Moreover, it was labeled as “Supreme.”
I couldn’t help but drool.
“Is this something you want?”
I nodded vigorously.
If I could just get my hands on that Inner Core, I could achieve anything.
“You’re quite greedy. You still have undigested substances in your body; why do you desire this as well?”
Undigested substances?
If I had to guess, it was probably a fragment of the Cayman’s Inner Core.
Even though it was a fragment, the attached descriptor was “Advanced.”
I didn’t feel my internal energy had increased when I consumed it.
In other words, it meant something still remained undigested in my body.
“This might not be necessary for you right now, but it isn’t completely without use.”
She intended to take it for herself.
“Gek….”
Well, it was only natural since she caught it.
If she had left just a piece of meat, I wouldn’t have been disappointed.
“With your current state, you wouldn’t be able to digest this Inner Core even if it was given to you. Perhaps when you grow stronger. We’ll see when we meet next time.”
Oh.
So there’s still a chance?
“Gek gek.”
Yeah.
Even if it’s just words, it’s something.
But wait, “next time?”
I stealthily climbed onto Baek Yeon-Young’s foot.
I coiled my tail around her calf and thigh.
Baek Yeon-Young gazed at me wordlessly.
“…What are you doing?”
Wasn’t this the part where she would take me in and care for me?
I was supposed to be the reincarnated lizard in a martial arts story, and I was hoping to be pampered by a top-tier beauty.
Wasn’t that the development?
Baek Yeon-Young swiftly grabbed the nape of my neck and dropped me.
I lifted my head slightly to gauge her reaction.
Her silence made it seem like she was somewhat angry.
That wouldn’t do.
The moment she regarded me as an enemy, I would be finished.
“Gek gek.”
I had to negotiate somehow.
I began to gently wag my tail, signaling I wanted to be taken along.
Baek Yeon-Young lifted me effortlessly by the scruff of my neck.
Her blue eyes locked onto mine.
“Little lizard.”
Ah, so it seemed she was considering taking me after all!
“Do you truly wish to grow under my care?”
…….
It felt like being struck on the head with something solid.
Was it because I was meeting someone for the first time since coming to this world?
Or perhaps it was because she was a beautiful woman?
Or was it the overwhelming power she possessed compared to anything I had ever seen?
Why was I having such foolish thoughts?
“Lizard. Little lizard.”
Remember this.
Remember why you fell to the bottom of this cave.
“Is that truly your desire?”
Because I ran away.
Because I couldn’t defeat the Cayman and fled, crying helplessly.
It was because I was weak.
And even now, I was trying to escape.
I clenched my fist.
A lizard’s hand isn’t built to make a fist.
My claws dug into my flesh.
Blood dripped.
This wasn’t the time to think idly.
What if the woman before me had not been kind?
What if I had encountered the adult Titanoboa before meeting her?
What if I hadn’t spotted the crevice while being chased by the Cayman?
What if the Oviraptor had bitten me while I was still in the egg?
It was just a series of coincidences that led to my survival.
The circumstances have been favorable; perhaps due to the opponent’s mistake, luck, timing, or reasonable disposition.
At no point did I exert my will in all of this.
Even if someone else had found themselves in this situation, they would have survived until now.
This world is not that kind.
There are countless opponents stronger than I.
Even the Cayman is insignificant compared to this woman.
And yet, I fled from such a creature.
At the very least, I should have dealt with that opponent by my own hand.
If I cannot do that, I will be stuck and unable to move forward.
I stared fiercely at Baek Yeon-Young.
What I conveyed in my gaze was my determination and ambition.
“Gek.”
I will not run away again.
“Huhuh.”
Did my eyes deceive me?
A expression appeared on Baek Yeon-Young’s face.
It was not just a false smile that moved her lips, but a genuine expression of joy.
It was a brief moment, but I certainly witnessed it.
“How adorable.”
For a fleeting moment, with a smile, Baek Yeon-Young set me down on the ground.
“Little lizard, I have a feeling we will meet again soon.”
Yes.
We must meet again.
Until then, I would be grateful if she left that Inner Core alone.
I raised my forelimbs to show my intent to take care of the Inner Core.
“Hahaha! What are you trying to mimic with your tiny hands?”
Baek Yeon-Young’s laughter halted.
With one hand in a fist and the other outstretched, she accepted my gesture.
“Very well. I came to Silver Dragon Cave at great personal risk, but I’ve obtained more than I expected.”
Is this place called Silver Dragon Cave?
“Little lizard, I look forward to the moment you break your little vessel.”
After saying that, Baek Yeon-Young vanished in an instant.
She seemed to blend into the shadows.
Her speed was so great that I couldn’t even perceive her.
Is it true that masters of that caliber move differently?
I now had a goal.
Baek Yeon-Young.
That woman is my target.
However, reaching her level of skill right away would be impossible.
I needed a smaller target first.
The one that led me to this place,
the Piranha Cayman.
I steeled my resolve.
Now, all that’s left for me is training.
In this pitch-black cave where not a single ray of light enters, until I can defeat the Cayman.
I will gain strength by chewing on the corpses of bugs.
…
…Wait, would it be too much to expect her to at least help me out of here?
Or at least tell me where the entrance is?
Surely she didn’t think I was from this damp cave?
Is there really another lizard that looks like me in here?
“Gek gek gek!”
Come back!
Get me out!
If not, then just show me the way!
I could train outside.
No. Even if I became stronger here, I still couldn’t catch the Cayman.
Would I just grow huge like the Imugi I saw earlier and hide in this cave?
“Gek gek!”
Baek Yeon-Young, who had already disappeared, could not answer me.
Instead, others responded in kind.
Rustle rustle.
It was the aftermath of the thunderous clash between her and the Titanoboa.
And the void created by the overwhelming presence of Baek Yeon-Young disappearing.
One could understand it as two beings of great power engaged in battle, with one dying.
Just like the thoughts of those bugs flocking here.
“…Gek.”
To survive in this cave, am I left with no choice but to scavenge the corpses of my natural enemies who fought and died?
They’re gathering in numbers.
But there’s no corpse of an Imugi here.
Baek Yeon-Young has been gone for a long time.
The only thing present is this little lizard.
This is an opportunity.
Do not mistake me for the Green Basilisk I once was.
The Basilisk who learned the Dragon Claw Technique.
I am the Green Basilisk, her immediate predecessor.
“Gek gek gek!”
Come at me, you bugs.
…But wait, are your numbers increasing?
My site has received a lot of DMCA notices, lol. From now on, I will update the MTL on https://darkmtl.com/.
The site is fast and lightweight because there are no ads yet. However, the theme is different from Cybor-TL, so take some time to familiarize yourself.
Support me by donating at least $10, and you'll have the right to request any novel from Novelpia (excluding 19+ content) using a newly developed tool.