NOVEL NEXT WORLD EP.5
[Level Up!]
I munched on the ant that had entered my mouth while glancing at the message.
It seems that I was right; these ants must yield a lot of experience points because they looked a bit different from the others.
After easily taking care of the ant that had ambushed me from behind, I looked at the cowering horde of ants.
Could it be that this ant I devoured was their leader?
Their movements began to feel strange.
Previously, they felt controlled; now they looked like they had lost that control.
Some of them fled, while others charged forward recklessly.
This was a favorable situation for us. Their forces were dispersed, and now they attacked as if they had no intelligence whatsoever. It was evident that they were tangling with each other, causing adverse effects.
The spider was fighting remarkably well.
After shooting out webs to immobilize the ants, she danced gracefully on her long legs while slaughtering them.
I could hear the sound of experience points rising even from where I stood.
It was certainly a good choice to ally with that spider.
I was not idle either.
While dealing swiftly with the lesser ants, I occasionally marked the strong ones that appeared.
[Acacia Fire Ant LV6]
Level 6.
This one was the second strongest after the one I just dealt with.
It was larger than the previous one—about twice the size of an ordinary ant.
I steadied myself and charged toward it.
Whish.
All the ants around it began to scatter at once.
It was an unfamiliar movement up to this point.
That ant could command some of them.
From the number of moving ants, it seemed to be about a captain level.
Taking this one out first was the right choice.
Swish.
I whipped my tail.
Bam!
The fire ant flew backward helplessly.
Unlike the others, it didn’t die from a single hit.
But this was enough to ensure it was combat ineffective.
To finish it off, I leaped once more.
And at that moment, the scattered ants simultaneously charged at me.
They had a decent strategy, but it didn’t work on me.
I spun my body and ground the charging ants to pulp.
If they weren’t like that one ant that could withstand a hit, then there was no way even these little ones could stop me.
Thud!
I felt a sharp sting.
A large fire ant bit my leg.
Ouch.
That hurt more than I expected.
With a swing of my tail, I ended its life.
【Green Gecko LV7】
HP: 22/27
MP: 10/12
This was survivable.
I turned my head toward the next target.
And at that moment, I felt something was off.
My body wouldn’t move as I wanted it to.
[Status Abnormality: Paralysis]
Paralysis? Does it have such skills because it’s a high level?
It was just a fleeting encounter. Yet I was left paralyzed.
The effect wouldn’t last long.
However, in a chaotic situation like this, that brief moment was incredibly critical.
The ants pounced on me as if they had been waiting for it.
Thud!
Crash!
I felt my HP drop in an instant.
But I didn’t give up.
The spider had noticed my predicament.
Whoosh!
White threads poured down like rain.
[You have acquired “Paralysis Resistance LV1.”]
I gained a new skill at just the right moment.
Although it wasn’t immunity but resistance, that was sufficient.
I could now move my body.
I ripped apart the nearest ant that hadn’t caught the spider’s web with my claws.
It wasn’t easy. In the process, I got bitten on my right leg once.
Crash!
I bit down on the head of the ant that had clamped onto my leg with my large mouth.
With a pop, its head fell off.
I chewed on that head.
Even though they were caught in the spider’s web, they didn’t lose their momentum.
Kudos to them for their tremendous fighting spirit, even as enemies.
Even now, a few ants were attempting to leap from behind me.
[Level Up!]
However, what they aimed for was my afterimage.
I quickly shed my old skin and overwhelmed all the incoming ants.
“Gegegek!”
They must have felt wronged. I had been on the brink of death, and now I was thriving.
【Green Gecko LV8】
HP: 29/29
MP: 14/14
If you’re upset, why don’t you be born as geckos too?
‘Sprint!’
I dashed among the despondent ants at incredible speed.
I imagined the sound effects could be something like “Kaboom!”
The level of my sprint had gone up significantly, reaching level 5 without me noticing.
Now, the pressure alone was enough to knock ants over.
Thud-thud!
The ants flew into the air.
I leaped at the ants suspended in mid-air, unleashing relentless attacks.
Splat!
The ants split into heads, thoraxes, and abdomens, raining down onto the ground.
There are still a considerable number left.
However, the performance I displayed was enough to make even those rushing forward without a head hesitate.
A lizard on the brink of death suddenly regained its vitality and sent the ants flying into the air, which then fell precisely into three parts on the ground.
If I were an ant, I would have fled.
Slurp.
I used my tongue to lick the remnants of the ant stuck to my mouth.
It was to supplement my nutrition and to dampen the morale of the enemy.
There are still many left.
But now, the outcome could be deemed nearly decided.
What remained was sheer slaughter.
The beginning of the double experience event.
*
【Green Gecko LV9】
HP: 21/31
MP: 5/15
It was all over now.
Nephila and I exchanged glances.
That fearsome face looked quite dependable.
“Gegegek.”
Perhaps it had a similar thought, as it lightly nodded its head.
“Kieeeng.”
It twisted its front legs in a strange manner.
What was that supposed to mean?
It felt like a gesture that could lead to trouble if understood.
I began to handle the bodies of the fallen ants.
Most of the enemies died on the ground, but there were still quite a few carcasses left on this branch. I opened my mouth wide and began to chew on the ants.
A slightly tangy taste was impressive.
[The level of “Poison Resistance LV3” has increased.]
Would eating poisonous creatures increase my resistance to poison?
I should experiment with that whenever I get the chance.
While picking up and eating ants, I glanced at the spider.
Fortunately, it seemed uninterested in the dead ants.
It was stroking something round that was tucked away in a corner of the nest.
Did it lay eggs or something?
…Was the spider’s egg supposed to look like that?
It was quite a fascinating shape.
I focused my eyes.
【Inferior Inner Dan】
….
Inner Dan?
Is it the one mentioned in martial arts novels?
Are they talking about the kind that spiritual creatures possess?
A perfect spherical shape.
That was indeed how I recognized the appearance of Inner Dan.
What on earth is going on in this world?
Aren’t there supposed to be dinosaurs, and now a spider is harboring an Inner Dan?
Is this some kind of martial arts novel featuring dinosaurs?
I pondered such absurd thoughts while looking at the spider.
And at that moment, a sharp pain registered in my eyes.
An overwhelming flood of information suddenly appeared.
[Acacia Fire Ant General LV8]
[Acacia Fire Ant Soldier LV7]
[Acacia Fire Ant Soldier LV5]
[Acacia Fire Ant Soldier LV5]
Time seemed to flow slowly.
The movements of the ants appeared to proceed at a crawl.
The ones hiding among the leaves simultaneously attacked the spider.
It was nearly out of health. If ambushed by ants of that caliber, no matter how strong it was, it would be in danger. Moreover, with the Inner Dan in its possession now, it was even more vulnerable.
‘Sprint.’
It was too late to deal with the ants.
The only thing I could do was push the spider away.
“Hioong?”
I leaped to push the spider forward.
Thanks to that, the ants’ assaults aimed at a different target.
The direction of the lost ants’ sharp mandibles focused on one spot.
Crack!
That hurt a lot.
[Status Abnormality: Paralysis]
My body wouldn’t move.
[The level of “Paralysis Resistance LV1” has increased!]
This wasn’t a moment for celebration.
Crack.
They were persistent.
They tore at my flesh with their mandibles and injected ant venom into my wounds.
“Geek!”
[Status Abnormality: Poisoning]
This was getting ridiculous.
These damn ants.
“Kieek!”
The spider, having figured out the situation, quickly rushed over and eliminated the surrounding ants.
【Green Gecko LV9】
HP: 14/31
MP: 3/14
[Paralysis] [Poisoning]
Even during this time, their attacks didn’t cease.
They continued to gnaw at my skin, pouring ant venom into the wounds.
I exhaled roughly.
This was dangerous.
There was only one way to escape this situation.
Level up and molt.
With these ants, I could increase my level just by eating them.
Nephila Jurassica crushed the ant that was biting me with its foot.
Smash!
The fire ant general’s hard exoskeleton shattered. Angered by the ambush, Nephila relentlessly attacked it.
Good.
Well done, spider.
You should tenderize it before making a meal of it.
As I cheered on the spider’s merciless attack, I slowly began to feel the sensations returning to my body. The paralysis was wearing off.
I locked eyes with the fallen ant general.
It was not dead yet. If I rushed over and finished it off, I would undoubtedly level up significantly.
And at that moment, it unfurled its wings.
Do ants have wings?
This is totally cheating.
Wait a minute, if it’s spreading its wings…
Whoosh.
It suddenly vanished.
My plans were thrown into disarray.
The largest source of experience had escaped.
I had to level up with the remaining corpses.
I dashed straight toward the already deceased ants and began stuffing them into my mouth.
They didn’t taste good. But that wasn’t something I could afford to worry about right now.
【Green Gecko LV9】
HP: 6/31
MP: 3/14
[Poisoning]
[HP is insufficient!]
I know that.
My HP was dropping faster than expected.
I had eaten all the ants, but my level didn’t increase.
Nephila Jurassica was nowhere to be found.
What was I thinking helping that spider, hoping for some glory?
…If I had known this would happen, I would have just snatched the Inner Dan and called it a day.
So this is how I, as a lizard, am going out.
My vision was blurring.
*
I felt a sense of faintness.
It was as if I was dreaming.
Yes, this must be the fleeting moments one experiences just before death.
I quietly closed my eyes.
…Am I able to close my eyes?
I’m a lizard, after all.
I opened my previously shut eyes wide.
What lay before me was a completely white space along with a familiar message window.
[Your level has increased!]
【Green Gecko LV10(+)】
HP: 33/33
MP: 15/15
I leveled up.
What just happened?
And what does that next to the level sign mean?
[Maximum level reached.]
Maximum level?
Yes. I’m not foolish enough to not understand that much.
What truly mattered was what that maximum level meant.
Whether it referred to my maximum level or the Green Gecko’s maximum level,
If it’s the former, it would mean I have reached my limit.
[An aura of auspicious energy surrounds your body.]
However, if it’s the latter, it suggests I can still grow further.
[Evolution is possible!]
Evolution.
What a magnificent word that is.
[Do you wish to evolve?]
Yes!
__________________________
The 【Green Gecko】 can evolve into:
1. 【Bearded Dragon】
2. 【Pygmy Chameleon】
3. 【Armadillo Lizard】
__________________________
I mulled over each choice one by one.
No matter how hard I stared, no additional explanations appeared.
I was in a position where I had to rely on the knowledge I possessed or my instincts to make a decision.
First, the first option: Bearded Dragon.
I hoped no foolish lizard would be tempted just because of the impressive word “dragon” attached at the end.
Could a Gecko even evolve into a dragon?
The Bearded Dragon is just an ordinary lizard.
I skipped the first and looked at the second option.
Pygmy Chameleon.
Well, it’s a chameleon after all.
Yes, the reptile that can change its body color to blend in.
I liked the ability itself. I could just hang somewhere on a tree and wait comfortably for prey. However, I wasn’t fond of the descriptor that preceded it.
Isn’t the Pygmy Chameleon the smallest chameleon in the world?
Becoming smaller than I already am was a hard pass.
The ability itself is interesting, but that’s a no-go.
Lastly, the Armadillo Lizard.
I wasn’t very familiar with this species. However, just hearing its name gave me a rough picture of its characteristics.
Armadillo, and then Lizard.
There was no way it could be anything but sturdy.
If I had to choose one out of the three, it would obviously be the Armadillo Lizard.
…It’s a bit disappointing, but you can’t fill up on the first meal of the day.
[Confirmation of the acquisition of “Sprint.”]
Just before I made my choice, a new message arrived.
[Special evolution conditions have been met!]
Special evolution?
If there’s something like that, show it to me first.
__________________________
The 【Green Gecko】 can evolve into:
1. 【Bearded Dragon】
2. 【Pygmy Chameleon】
3. 【Armadillo Lizard】
4. 【Green Basilisk】 (「Sprint LV7」)
__________________________
Basilisk?
Is it the same basilisk I know?
The one that shoots petrifying rays from its eyes?
Is it really okay to evolve into something like that?