NOVEL NEXT WORLD EP.26
As soon as I got up, a swarm of insects came rushing towards me.
This was my mistake.
I should have made sure they were truly dead before coming in.
But, still, they aren’t that much of a threat.
They’re just bugs after all.
House Centipedes, Grima, Millipedes.
Even when I was a Green Basilisk, I hunted them down.
There’s no way they could harm me now.
Rather, this is a good opportunity to adapt to this evolved body.
Three House Centipedes are charging at me from the front.
I think of the House Centipede I sent away, but let’s set that thought aside for now.
Their sharp jaws are aimed at me.
Thud!
But they couldn’t penetrate my armor.
Bam!
With my left hand, I swung the Dragon Claw Technique, turning the three House Centipedes into mush.
“Grrr!”
In the blink of an eye, I claimed their lives.
No matter how much of a bug they are, they must recognize the difference between us.
By showcasing my overwhelming performance alongside a fearsome roar, I crushed the enemies’ morale.
I took the initiative.
With this, they wouldn’t be able to rush at me so easily.
“Khieeeeeek!”
Despite witnessing their advance party getting smashed, they still charged at me.
Like a mindless horde of zombies.
The situation isn’t looking good.
Yet, the fact that they can’t hurt me remains unchanged.
Boom!
I slammed my massive front paw down on the ground.
This was to instill a sense of intimidation in them.
However, the effect far exceeded my expectations.
Thud!
Those on the ground seemed to soar into the air as if flying.
Is my strength really that great?
No, that can’t be it.
These creatures are just abnormally light.
Seizing the opportunity, I quickly maneuvered my body.
I dealt with the two in front using the Dragon Claw Technique and swept my long tail to take out the enemies in the back.
Pow!
Their bodies crumbled all at once.
Yes, they didn’t burst; they crumbled.
Something feels off.
But for now, I need to focus on the enemies in front of me.
Now, what charges at me is a giant Millipede.
It’s similar in size to the one that ambushed me earlier.
The march of armor is coming.
Grrr!
If it were before my evolution, even a scratch would have caused significant damage.
But that’s not the case now.
Boom!
I took the charge head-on without dodging.
Screeched.
I braced myself with my back legs against the impact and opened my mouth to bite down on its neck.
Creak!
The Millipede’s armor crumbled as easily as old wooden planks.
My mouth felt dry.
…Is the advance party completely dealt with now?
“Khieek!”
A House Centipede lunged at me from the side.
Thud!
Its attack failed as it smashed against my armor, but its severed head continued to act as if it was trying to bite.
Something seems off.
I should have turned it into mush.
How is it still moving?
It wasn’t just the House Centipede.
All the ones I finished off with the Dragon Claw Technique were starting to move again.
This is strange.
If I’m not mistaken, there must be white mushrooms attached to their bodies.
That must be their real bodies.
The insects are already dead.
It’s the mushrooms that are controlling them.
…Cordyceps!
Focusing my eyes, I could see thin white threads delicately attached between the joints of their bodies.
“Grrrr….”
I’ve found the solution.
Snap!
I swatted the Grima rushing at me with my tail.
Simultaneously, I leaped at the Millipede that was starting to move again.
Boom!
My massive body collided, knocking it over as it tried to rise again.
Snap!
I jabbed the Dragon Claw Technique into its heart area.
No matter how simple the thing controlling it is, this should keep them from moving.
I just took out the Cordyceps inside as well.
However, it did not die.
Ssssss.
The Millipede rose up again, completely fine.
And the House Centipede and Grima were regaining their flesh.
Moreover, another swarm of insects was rushing towards this place from behind the cave.
I realized that there is a separate real body controlling them, but the problem has not been resolved.
Bang!
Smash!
I smashed them to the point of dust.
However, they still didn’t die.
Caw!
I even swallowed them whole at times.
For the moment, they appeared dead.
Yet, from somewhere, a Cordyceps would just jump into the body of another insect.
It became a fight where either I had to devour all these bugs, or I had to die for it to end.
…In fact, the option of devouring all of them is difficult.
If the Cordyceps merge together to become the last one, I might end up being controlled by it instead.
It’s not easy.
Truly not easy.
Especially since the stone gate had closed, I couldn’t escape.
……
Again, I thought of running away.
No, I can’t do that.
I lifted my head high and faced the situation directly.
Even just the giant Millipede had increased in numbers to three.
In addition, more bugs kept rushing towards me.
This is dangerous.
But I wasn’t scared.
Because I had seen Baek Yeon-Young.
Compared to her intimidation, these creatures are quite cute.
What would Baek Yeon-Young do?
Yeah, she would do this.
I planted my feet firmly on the ground.
Boom!
With a single step, my weight was fully transferred.
Grgghhh.
My profound internal energy (심후하) wasn’t something that could be easily described. It crushed the insects beneath me.
Since I didn’t know how to handle my internal energy well, it might not work against standard foes.
However, they were already corpses at this point.
I could certainly overpower the mushrooms controlling them.
The insects couldn’t dare to move their bodies.
Of course, in this state, I couldn’t move either.
But that’s okay.
Right now, I can observe even more intensely.
At the moment when all their movements ceased, I noticed a familiar shape in my sight.
【Entropezaite LV7】
【Status】
“Suppression,” “Host”
__________________________
【Entropezaite】
The oldest parasitic mushroom.
It has the ability to spread its spores widely and control already dead bodies.
__________________________
So you are the main body.
Without delay, I kicked off the ground and charged at it.
The moment my body moved, the power I held over them vanished.
A multitude of insects rushed at me.
To protect the main body, they tried to stop me at all costs.
Some bit my tail, while others blocked between me and the main body.
“Grrrr….”
Crack.
I infused my claws with my internal energy.
After focusing all my strength, I swung it wide.
Snap!
My sharp claws cleaved through the insect trying to stop me in one stroke.
The force imbued in my strike didn’t stop there.
Crasht!
I ground the Entropezaite against the rocky wall.
Thud.
The insects that had been trying to stop me all moved simultaneously, dropping to the ground.
Huff.
Capturing the main body clears it all away.
What a troublesome opponent.
[Your level has increased.]
After all this effort, I’ve only gone up one level?
No, it’s common knowledge that the higher you evolve, the harder it is to level up.
As a King Crocodile Lizard, I understand that.
“Gekk… Argh!”
I keep making my old sounds. This diminishes my intimidation.
For now, let’s have a meal.
I took a large bite out of the Cordyceps.
Munch.
Not bad.
It’s a bit bitter, but the taste is similar to shiitake mushrooms.
If grilled well and eaten with meat, I’d have no complaints.
Drip.
Ugh, I’m salivating.
But don’t they have anything to give me?
Shouldn’t Cordyceps be treated as a valuable elixir?
Ding.
That’s right.
[The level of “Gastronomy LV2” is increasing.]
Huh?
What? I thought I would get something.
It’s just that eating something delicious increases my level, huh?
Well, it’s not like valuable elixirs come easily.
I guess I have to be satisfied with just a little I stole.
At least it tastes good, so I’ll let it slide.
Munch.
After finishing my meal, I stood up to begin my exploration.
Indeed, two legs are more comfortable than four.
This place is sealed.
Seeing items like talismans and straw dolls, I could tell there was something magical at play.
Did that Cordyceps have something to do with it?
Reviving dead bodies with unknown powers, huh?
Well, if they are martial artists, it makes sense.
It would be bewildering for anyone not as sharp as a lizard like me.
…But isn’t this a bit excessive?
That mushroom is large, sure, but it should be small compared to a human.
At most, it seems it could control the Millipedes.
What else could there be?
Thud.
In that instant, I heard the sound of a droplet falling.
Just a single drop.
But it was such an unexpected sound that I could pinpoint its origin immediately.
It was from what seemed to be the center of this small cave.
I opened my eyes wide and examined it closely.
There was a stone structure resembling a small altar.
There were many characters I couldn’t read on it.
And on top of it sat a small bowl.
Inside the bottle-shaped bowl were a few drops of a liquid that looked like milk.
A cave.
And a liquid that looked like milk.
But the quantity was small.
Could it be…?
[Gong Cheong Stone Oil (Black)]
It’s Gong Cheong Stone Oil!
Goodness.
A legendary elixir rivaling the Eternal Fire Carp and Golden Phoenix Bird.
Even a criminal consuming it would become an extraordinary master!
Moreover, unlike other elixirs, there’s no worry about bursting your body, truly a gift from heaven!
Perhaps it’s because I’ve lived well that I get to see such an elixir with my own eyes.
But what does the ‘Black’ mean?
It has a slight milky tint but also appears a bit dark.
Sniff.
Eww, it doesn’t smell great either.
I feel like it has a slight oil scent.
Eh, still, the status window says it’s Gong Cheong Stone Oil, so what could go wrong?
I need to drink it quickly before someone steals it.
In hastiness,
I snatched the bottle containing the Gong Cheong Stone Oil.
If I were an ordinary lizard, I could never drink this liquid in the bottle like a sad fox.
But I’m not your ordinary lizard.
Let’s give it a try.
Shlick.
I tilted the bottle as much as I could and licked the pooled Gong Cheong Stone Oil with my tongue.
Suck.
What flavor is this?
“Ghuk….”
It’s just oil!
No, the status window can’t be lying.
I feel an impulse to spit it out right away, but I have to hold it in.
Gulp.
I managed to swallow the liquid down my throat.
Phew….
Please.
Oh, Status Window.
I’ve been through a lot, you know?
Chased out from the swamp, petted unmercifully by Baek Yeon-Young, and learned martial arts.
…Did I not suffer enough?
As a King Crocodile Lizard, I kept my eyes slightly open, waiting for a message from the Status Window.
Ding.
[You have consumed a supreme elixir.]
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【Gong Cheong Stone Oil (Black)】
A liquid created by the natural energies condensed over a long time. A drop of liquid formed from the accumulated remains of divine creatures. While its effects are diminished compared to the ordinary Gong Cheong Stone Oil, it still has the quality deserving the name, a supreme elixir.
Effect: Greatly enhances the performance of a random skill.
__________________________
Random?
It’s random?
Please.
Oh, dear Status Window.
Please help me just one more time!