EP.31
When one thinks of a swamp, rotten water often comes to mind, but that’s a misconception.
A swamp indeed has its own unique environment. Mangrove trees and floating lotus leaves create a habitat where bugs gather, alongside small beasts that prey on them. Larger creatures come to drink water, disregarding the others that reside there.
This place, too, was its own ecosystem.
A gathering point for various beings, each with their own purpose.
To some, it was a home; to others, a source of food; and to yet others, a drinking spot.
In my case, it encompassed all three.
And right now, I was on the hunt.
The essence of hunting is patience.
I calmly waited for my prey.
Under the water, I squinted my eyes, stretching my body wide to feel even the slightest vibrations.
Tok.
A small wave rippled.
Someone is coming.
From the size of the wave, it doesn’t seem very big.
Based on my experiences, it might be a Microraptor.
Tock.
The creature buried its head at the water’s edge.
An inexperienced hunter would have rashly poked their head out.
That would result in missing the prey.
The moment a beast drinks water is when one should be most alert.
But it’s not time yet.
I wait.
Plop.
Just as it finished drinking and was about to pull its head away!
Ku-kwaaaa!
“Kiiiiiick!”
The Microraptor let out a bird-like cry and flapped its front limbs.
But it was already too late.
There was no way it could react to my speed, which surpassed that of a Cayman.
“Kii-kik! Kiiiiiick!”
The prey had already found its way into my mouth.
It struggled to escape but must have realized—resistance was futile.
Thud!
Chomp.
I chewed it down, bones and all.
The taste was quite good, enough to feel sorry for comparing it to bugs.
It was savory as I chewed through the bones.
While I was pleased with my hunt, there was a tinge of disappointment, too.
The noise created by catching it scared off all the other potential prey nearby.
And with that, today’s hunting came to an end.
Next time, I need to aim for something bigger.
Last time, I accidentally hunted a Protoceratops, which was quite satisfying.
Though the Microraptor tasted better, the quantity of meat was on a whole different level.
After shaking off the blood smudged on my lips a couple of times, I stood on my two feet.
Even after evolving, I must keep practicing to move consistently on my hind legs.
Although hunting like a crocodile has the highest success rate, it’s a problem that my behaviors are becoming more and more crocodilian. I find myself unconsciously attempting a death roll.
I need to reclaim my identity.
Tadadad!
I burst forth from the water.
Despite my size growing larger, there was no unnecessary noise.
Thanks to having nearly perfected the Little Dragon Ascending Step.
The destination I arrived at was a massive mangrove tree.
A new home built after the Cayman’s destruction.
Originally, the King Crocodile Lizard is a creature that dwells not in water but atop trees.
Reflecting that characteristic, I chose a tree with wide branches to build my hideout.
A natural bed woven from spider silk and leaves.
A canopy to shield from the warm sunlight.
Proudly displayed was the skin of the Cayman.
Thick toad jerky prepared for when hunger strikes.
And there were two spiders greeting me pleasantly.
“Kyiiick!”
Right. I’m happy to see you too.
It was a stable life.
At this point, it could be called a successful life.
Nothing particularly threatened my life, and I succeeded in hunting every time.
…Would it be alright to take a quick peek at the upper swamp?
How much difference could there be?
Sure, why not? Let’s take a look.
If it seems easy enough, raiding the place wouldn’t be a bad idea either.
Toos and Pus.
I’m stepping out for a bit.
“Gekgek.”
If you get hungry, eat the toad jerky. The poison should have dissipated by now.
“Kiieeck!”
Toos and Pus waved their short legs, seeing me off.
And so, I headed toward the upper swamp.
I had my own confidence.
Even though I might not look it, I was a creature that had devoured a few dinosaurs.
Of course, those smaller than me, like the Microraptor or Protoceratops.
What is there to fear, especially since I defeated that monstrous Cayman?
My size had grown quite significantly, now on par with a Cayman.
Come on, new world, bring it on.
The moment my youthful ambitions crossed the hill, they swooped away somewhere.
“Kiikik!”
A chilling cry echoed.
【Deinonychus LV9】
【Deinonychus LV4】
【Deinonychus LV6】
….
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【Deinonychus】
With a body length of 3 meters and weighing between 60-100 kg, it is a small carnivorous dinosaur.
It’s a highly intelligent hunter that hunts large dinosaurs in packs.
The sharp second claw on its hind leg prefers a hunting method that punctures the belly of its prey, causing severe bleeding.
__________________________
Deinonychus.
Most people are aware of the intelligent Velociraptors featured in movies. These creatures are the very model for those Velociraptors.
Even a single specimen exceeds my specifications.
Yet, a group of those is now present.
“Craaaaah!”
My shock didn’t end there.
I had witnessed another dinosaur in combat with it.
【Baryonyx LV22】
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【Baryonyx】
With a body length of 7 to 10 meters and weighing between 1.2 to 2 tons, it is a medium-sized carnivorous dinosaur. Its long jaw is filled with dense teeth, and it possesses over 30 cm long claws, highly specialized for fishing. But it doesn’t shy away from attacking and hunting other dinosaurs as a skilled predator.
__________________________
To define it in one word, it’s a lesser version of the Spinosaurus. Remove the sail on its back and reduce its size, and you have the Baryonyx.
So, I thought it wouldn’t be much of a threat.
However, witnessing it firsthand in this moment made me rethink that notion.
How could that be classified as a medium-sized carnivore?
Every step it took caused the ground to tremble.
If the Piranha Cayman had encountered that beast, it would have merely been a meal.
That’s how overwhelming it was.
The battle between Deinonychus and Baryonyx.
Normally, one would flee in such a situation, but my feet felt rooted to the spot.
Thud.
My heart raced.
To see dinosaurs battle in real life, no less high-profile ones fighting for life and death, was an exhilarating sight.
Even if it’s dangerous, I must watch.
There must be something to learn from witnessing the battles of such masters.
I did find it curious, though. Even with six of them, why would the Deinonychus challenge the Baryonyx? Moreover, wasn’t this swamp within the Baryonyx’s territory?
The massive forelimbs of the Baryonyx swung towards the Deinonychus.
Swoosh!
Just hearing it made my entire body tingle.
The Deinonychus evaded the attack with agile movement.
“Craaaaaak!”
The Baryonyx charged at them with incredible speed, roaring fiercely.
Boom.
Boom.
Tadadad!
The Deinonychus scattered in an instant.
The leading entity evaded the attack while the other members targeted the unprotected tail.
“Grrr!”
Wait a moment.
There was something peculiar about their coordination.
Hunting in groups is a natural instinct in the wild.
It could also serve as their weapon.
Yet, why did their movements seem so awkward to my eyes?
To be precise, it didn’t appear to be the movement of dinosaurs.
Then I realized the source of my discomfort.
The positioning of their feet.
And the consistent rhythm of attack and retreat.
They were utilizing formations.
Additionally, with the frequent change of the leading member, it seemed they were employing a wheel-like tactic.
There must be something they believe in for them to take on that beast.
As time passed, the Deinonychus began to gain the upper hand.
The wheel-like tactic.
Like a cart’s wheels rotating, they preserved their strength while depleting the enemy’s.
The Baryonyx was tiring, while the Deinonychus remained unscathed.
At this rate, it was evident that the colossal creature would collapse.
However, the Deinonychus was becoming overconfident.
They were fighting at the water’s edge, after all.
“Kwaaaaaaak!”
Having grasped the Deinonychus’s formation, the Baryonyx anticipated its position and swung its tail.
Wham!
As a result, one Deinonychus was struck directly by the tail.
The outcome was immediate death.
It was only natural, given the sheer size of that beast.
“Grrrr…”
The Baryonyx turned its gaze to the next target.
“Kiik! Kiiik!”
The remaining Deinonychus heightened its cries.
“Graaah!”
At that moment, as the Baryonyx charged, it turned its head and began to flee.
Such quick judgment.
With one down, they inferred they couldn’t take on the beast.
Instead of pursuing the fleeing Deinonychus, the Baryonyx chose to feast on the fallen one.
Crack, crunch.
…What have I just witnessed?
The fight exceeded anything I could have imagined.
I thought it would simply be a tussle between dinosaurs, yet it was on a whole different level.
Feints and real strikes. Formations and tactics. Analytical learning and swift, cold judgments.
How could this be a fight between unintelligent beasts?
Indeed.
For now, I should steer clear of this place.
There must be a reason why the Cayman was ensconced over there.
On the bright side, perhaps due to the terrain, they showed no interest in crossing over to where I was. If they had, the Cayman wouldn’t have remained the dominant force in the swamp.
Phew.
I should avoid even looking.
I must warn Toos and Pus as well.
If I inadvertently attracted their attention, it might lead to trouble.
…Surely, there wouldn’t be a fool who would walk into that place willingly.
*
“Ugh…”
The eight third-rate martial artists gasped for breath.
“What in the world is going on here!”
They had followed Namgung Yeon after hearing rumors of a major haul.
However, instead of a spirit creature, they found themselves confronted by the leader of the Heavenly Demon Cult, causing them to scatter in disarray.
“Ha… but the cultists aren’t all that impressive, are they? We survived after all.”
“Hehe. You’re right about that. This is exactly how those cultists are. Thanks to them, we’ve ended up in the heart of Shiman Mountain.”
They had no way of knowing how much effort the Left Dharma Protector had made to ensure they weren’t killed.
They were, after all, third-rate martial artists who couldn’t even be called second-rate.
In simpler terms, they were nothing more than common ruffians.
These were the greedy individuals whom Namgung Yeon had brought along to use as expendable pawns.
As they snickered, a sobbing sound suddenly reached their ears.
“Wuhuhuh…”
It was the girl with the dumpling-shaped head who had fled with them.
“What kind of son of a bitch…”
“Wait a moment.”
The red-haired man stopped his companion from venting his frustration.
With steady steps, he approached the girl.
“By the way, aren’t you from the Tang Family?”
“Wuhuhuh… y-yes, I am…”
The faces of the others lit up with realization.
A member of one of the five great families was with them.
They all possessed similar mediocre skills, so they had been worried. But having someone from the Tang Family changed everything. They could expect her to have superior foundational skills and possibly handle poisons that could be deadly to spirit creatures.
What a relief.
Amid those thoughts, another question arose.
Why was she crying so sorrowfully?
“Why are you crying like that?”
“The Great Master Dal has disappeared… wuhuhuh…”
The Great Master Dal. The red-haired man pondered.
He recalled the spirit creature trapped within their group.
When the Thunderbolt Pellet had exploded, it had broken free along with them.
That was likely the Tang Family’s spirit creature. He had felt an overpowering aura of poison just by getting close.
“Don’t worry. If the lady regains her senses, you’ll be able to meet again.”
The red-haired man decided to win her favor.
Building ties with a master wouldn’t be a bad business deal.
Perhaps after escaping this place, he could establish connections with the Tang Family.
“But….”
“But?”
“I’m merely tasked with serving the Great Master Dal; I’m not skilled in combat…”
Oh, no, that’s a problem.
Some of the men spat on the ground.
Looking at her, she seemed no different from an ordinary girl.
Her internal energy was modest, not particularly unique to the five great families.
Expecting any combat ability from her was out of the question.
In other words, it meant an additional burden.
Yet, despite that, they couldn’t let their discontent show.
After all, it was confirmed she was from the Tang Family.
Treating her carelessly could lead to a swift and silent death, even if they were to regroup afterward.
The red-haired man regarded it as an opportunity instead.
While it may be tough, if he could protect her, he would cement a connection with the Tang Family.
“Haha. Don’t worry, miss. You must have heard of the Blood-Letting Saboteur’s alias, right?”
The dumpling-headed girl, Tang So-young, tilted her head.
“Uh? Y-you mean the Blood-Letting Saboteur?”
The Blood-Letting Saboteur nodded.
The effect of spreading money among the destitute was evident.
The Tang Family’s daughter recognized his alias.
“D-does a third-rate martial artist nowadays go around self-promoting their alias?”
Tang So-young managed to deliver her words even while sobbing.
“…What did you just say?”
“Eek! I-I’m sorry… I just thought it was ridiculous for someone claiming such an alias to be a third-rate martial artist, that’s all…”
Tang So-young sniffed her nose.
The Blood-Letting Saboteur was momentarily at a loss, trying to comprehend whether his ears or eyes were deceiving him.
How could she make such cutting remarks while displaying that kind of attitude?
“Y-you little…”
At that moment, other martial artists held him back.
“Hey, what’s your problem? You might end up unable to drink even a drop of water at this rate.”
Don’t provoke the Tang Family.
It was a warning from his fellow martial artists.
If you’re going to do it, do it right.
That was the implication behind their words.
“Ahem. Now that things seem to have settled down a bit, how about we gather opinions? I am… no, I go by the name of Jang Bong.”
Jang Bong had almost mentioned the alias he had paid dearly for but managed to hold his tongue.
It was due to Tang So-young’s sharp green gaze.
He didn’t know what kind of insult he might face if he revealed his alias.
“Humph. What opinions are there to gather? The foolish cultists have entered the garden; we should grab as many elixirs as we can.”
“Moving together would be better. Even if we obtain the elixirs, we won’t be able to use them if they don’t suit our constitution. Here’s what I think…”
Some were engaged in discussion, some were suppressing their anger at being offended, while others busily schemed.
Their focus was commendable.
“Caw! Caw!”
The starving group of Deinonychus, having lost one of their own, approached without anyone noticing.
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