EP.7
【Green Basilisk LV1】
HP: 50/50
MP: 20/20
【Title】
「Beloved by Spiders」
You will not be attacked first by creatures of the spider order.
When engaging with insects, you receive enhancements to strength and speed.
The effects were quite decent.
Not being attacked first by spiders seems like it could be quite useful.
After all, just like this time, I might be able to coordinate with other spiders to launch an ambush.
Additionally, the bonus when facing insects seems to be a significant advantage.
I couldn’t really tell how effective it would be, but this place was crawling with insects. The primary food source for lizards was also insects.
This was an effect I could put to good use.
It was a title that had no downsides to it.
…So why was this given to me?
I glanced once more at the distant acacia tree.
My mind felt troubled.
I had a feeling something hot was rising inside me.
How strange.
I suppressed that feeling and looked up at the sky.
The day was gradually brightening.
I had spent time battling ants mindlessly and evolving, which took quite a while.
I watched the sunrise for a while.
Before I could marvel at how the world was dyed in red, the sun was blocked.
I expressed my irritation in an exasperated voice.
“Ggegegek!”
Whoever it was, move aside immediately.
【Oviraptor LV10】
“Grgrrr?”
I locked eyes with the Oviraptor.
It looked somewhat chicken-like, but were its actions also like that of a chicken?
What a thing to be awake so early in the morning.
The Oviraptor tilted its head as its eyes met mine.
I felt a bit intimidated by its movements, but I soon reminded myself that I was no longer that insignificant lizard from before.
I was the Green Basilisk.
That meant I wasn’t some weak reptile like a gecko lizard.
I stood up on my two legs.
Spreading my arms wide, I puffed up my body.
It would likely think twice before approaching me easily.
“Grgr!”
Yeah.
Let’s each go our own way.
Predators typically did not fight each other.
Even if one were to win, sustaining injuries could be fatal for survival.
“Grgr!”
The Oviraptor clicked its beak like a dinosaur.
Wait a second.
No matter how I looked at it, that gaze was definitely one of viewing me as prey.
Had I overestimated myself? The creature charged toward me as if my size increase was no concern at all.
Why was this lizard acting so shamefully?
If it were going to do this, it should have done so from the start.
‘Sprint!’
As my body felt lighter, I dashed off in the opposite direction.
Tudadadada!
…Wait, is it really okay to be this fast?
It was unbelievable speed.
I wasn’t even running on all fours; I was sprinting on two legs.
Waving my arms wildly as I ran, I achieved a speed that was incomparable to before.
So this is why this lizard could walk on water.
I fled at a speed I couldn’t control.
Uncontrollable speed, quite literally.
Changing directions was nearly impossible at that speed.
But it was fine for now. I just needed to shake that creature off.
“Ggegegek!”
*
The Oviraptor was unable to catch up to me.
It looked like it would give up soon and return, but every time it did, I slowed down and clicked.
It chased after me, drooling and frantic.
But who was I?
Wasn’t I the Basilisk, dubbed the ‘Jesus Lizard’?
It stood there, dazed, watching me casually run across the water.
If I had just managed to change direction well, I could have had Oviraptor meat for breakfast; what a shame.
“Ggegegek!”
I surveyed my surroundings.
It was a vast swamp.
A basilisk is a lizard that runs on water.
I had figured out that I could run faster on water than on land.
Therefore, staying here would be advantageous for survival.
…I definitely didn’t want to catch and eat fish or shrimp or anything like that.
I took a look around the swamp.
Since I wasn’t the only one here, I hid my body among the suitable leaves.
I spotted large dragonflies flying around and a small dinosaur jumping around trying to catch the dragonflies.
I quickly scanned them.
Dragonflies could serve as a staple food, and the small winged dinosaur called Microraptor looked like it could pose a good challenge for me despite my current lizard body.
At least, that would be the case if it was wandering alone.
But since they were acting in a group, charging in carelessly would turn me into skewered lizard.
But were those the only creatures here?
At this rate, with just a bit more growth, I could conquer this swamp…
Splash!
Flap!
The sudden appearance of a massive reptile sent the Microraptor group into a panic, and they fled.
One of them got caught in the enormous jaws of an alligator.
Crack.
With a snap, the alligator clamped down on its wing and executed a death roll.
【Piranha Cayman LV7】
__________________________
【Piranha Cayman】
It can grow up to 3m long and weigh up to 75kg for males.
As its name suggests, it primarily preys on piranhas and is hostile towards jaguars.
It is an intelligent predator that prefers to ambush its prey underwater.
__________________________
Before the dust could settle, it dragged one of its prey into the muddy waters.
No wonder it smelled so foul; decomposition and its excrement must have mixed together.
I should avoid that area; the water was dirty, and it seemed there was nothing for me to eat.
There was nothing I could attempt against that monster, either.
I quickly scuttled away and looked for a spot where small puddles gathered.
It was relatively small, the water was clear, and there were no predators in sight. Plus, there were many naturally sheltered areas that would make for a perfect hiding spot.
Cautiously, I crawled toward the puddle.
It was a cozy place.
The lack of nearby food was a downside, but that also meant there were no predators.
It was the perfect place to sleep or rest.
“Ggek.”
I dipped my feet into the water.
It felt incredibly comfortable. It was as if my feet were moving on their own.
Is this what a water bed feels like?
Suddenly, I felt something rising from within me.
This had been happening since my evolution.
I sensed a hot energy inside my belly.
Could it be that the food the spider gave me was poisoned?
I stuck out my tongue to drink the water.
Lapping it up like a dog or cat felt insufficient, so I plunged my snout into the puddle and gulped it down.
With each swallow, my thirst only seemed to grow more intense.
It was reminiscent of the situation right after I evolved when I first ate.
As I continued to pour water into my belly, my thirst began to subside.
I patted my satisfied belly.
I had rested, eaten a lot, and even quenched my thirst.
Maybe it was the good mood that made my long tail sway naturally.
“Ggegegek.”
Had I ever rested so comfortably since coming here?
Sizzle.
How comfortable was it for steam to rise from my body?
…Why is steam coming out?
Quickly, I submerged myself back into the puddle.
The hot energy I felt inside was growing stronger.
[The mystical energy envelops your body.]
This message.
I had seen this message before.
[The energy of Intermediate Qi envelops your body.]
Wait a minute.
Intermediate Qi?
That was what the spider had.
It suddenly dawned on me why I was able to level up just before I nearly died.
The spider had fed me Qi.
It seemed that I didn’t die from it, so it wasn’t lethal, but Qi must have been a precious item.
I felt a pang of remorse.
Spider, if you evolve into an S-rank blonde beauty, I might reconsider my stance.
[The energy of Low Qi envelops your body.]
Low Qi?
What’s this now?
Come to think of it, the spider kept handing me something after I had regained consciousness.
There were a few things that tasted bitter; could they have been Qi?
Was that the reason for the persistent warmth rising within me?
No, spider.
I appreciate it, but…
Is it really okay for me to consume that?
Am I going to burst?
[The mystical energy fills your body.]
A white light appeared. If someone were drawing white from nature and forcing it into their body, this might be the scene. A dizzying white light flowed into me.
[The mystical energy promotes your growth!]
The hot energy began to gather in a specific area.
If I were human, it would be just below my navel.
In other words, the area known as the dantian.
The energies slowly began to coalesce.
Ding.
[“Sprint LV7” reacts with “Webbed Step LV1.”]
As if on cue, the status window appeared.
[“Tail Cut LV9” reacts with “Webbed Step LV1!”]
Sizzle.
The surface of the puddle I was submerged in began to bubble.
[“Wall Climbing LV4” reacts with “Webbed Step LV1!”]
The skills I possessed responded to the newly acquired skill.
I had a rough idea of what was happening. It was likely enhancing the skill called Webbed Step.
I figured it would probably gain about three additional levels.
[“Webbed Step LV1” evolves into “Large Webbed Step LV1!”]
Alright.
I wasn’t really expecting that.
You’ve made a good move there.
Large Webbed Step? Is my foot going to get bigger? That’s so lackluster.
If that’s the case, take it back!
The message from the status window suddenly became blurred.
[“Webbed Step LV1” has responded to ■□■■□□ and is ■■combined□■!]
I’m sorry. I’m sorry.
I was just joking. Please give it back.
No, this isn’t one of those things where you give and take away.
[“%! strange■□ LV1” reacts with “Webbed Step LV1!”]
I doubted my eyes.
It was a skill I didn’t possess in my skill window.
No, it was a skill that I couldn’t even read. The letters looked scrambled, as if there was an error.
[“Webbed Step LV1” has surpassed its limits.]
Surpassed its limits?
[“Webbed Step LV1” evolves into “Little Dragon Ascending Step.”]
Something was different.
The name sounded unusual, and there was no level attached to it.
I barely calmed my racing heart and read the skill description.
“Little Dragon Ascending Step”
A technique akin to the steps of a small dragon. You can traverse walls as if flying and walk freely on water. It receives a boost to base speed and makes learning other martial arts easier.
I barely stifled a scream of astonishment.
A technique?
And you say it helps with learning other martial arts?
It had only been a day since I reincarnated as a lizard.
I had completely mistaken the genre.
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