I Became the Only Reptile in the Community

Chapter 30

—–CROW—– 

“Kuak!”

The boy was flung back as if struck by something, while a narrow-eyed man let out a strange laugh. “There. That’s 0 wins and 25 losses.”

The man manipulated something with his hand and then slowly approached the boy.

“Damn it!”

The boy, his body unharmed, slammed his fist on the ground.  The blow, distorted by his magically fueled rage, caused streams of 0s and 1s, virtual data, to flow from the impacted area.

“Again!”

“Shouldn’t you take a break?”

“Again!”  The boy shouted, determined not to give up, but the man suggested he rest.

“Even if this is the Mirror World, you need to pace yourself.”

The Mirror World, a virtual combat system using the mind instead of the physical body, drawing on virtual data.

Here, in this place known as the Mage Tower’s secret, the boy, a disciple of the Mage Tower Master and a proclaimed genius destined to inherit the title, was grinding his teeth in frustration.

Genius?  The Mage Tower’s rising star?  He had been defeated 25 times by the same opponent!  And not even by a human, but by a mere beast!

“How am I supposed to beat an ancient creature?”

“Again. I can win this time.”

“Sigh.  I don’t know about that.”  Who could sway the boy’s stubbornness?  The man finally shook his head and, as the boy requested, recalled the virtual data.

*Tzzzzt*

An opponent slowly began to take form before the boy.

Four legs, not two.  And a menacing horn near its nose. It was a rhinoceros.

However, the summoned rhinoceros wasn’t just any rhinoceros; it was one said to have existed in ancient times.  Its size, as well as the pressure it exuded, were beyond imagination.

“An ancient rhinoceros.  The data isn’t completely compiled yet, so it’s presumed to be even stronger than this in its prime.  Compared to modern magical beasts, it’s clearly above a 1st-class, but below a Disaster-class, an ultra-hazardous magical beast.”

The man read the description he had recited numerous times and cheered the boy on.

***

*Inhale… Exhale…*

He focused on his posture and breathing. Even though he had evolved into an Imugi, his body still retained the same serpentine form as before, so his posture wasn’t particularly different.

[Excellent.]

However, what he gained through meditation was on a different level compared to before. When he was an ordinary snake, the rewards were peace of mind, mental focus, and adaptation to mana. Now, as an Imugi, in addition to those, he could accumulate power in his Yeouiju (dragon orb) and aspire to control mana, not just adapt to it.

*Rustle*

[The Yeouiju hasn’t accumulated as much energy as I thought, though.]

-That’s natural.  It’s cheating to think you can accumulate power in the Yeouiju just by meditating and eating like this!

Now that the Yeouiju had been formed, focusing on a single specific energy posed no problem.  Normally, the balance would be disrupted, but the Yeouiju wasn’t called a Yeouiju for nothing. Somehow, it maintained balance, ensuring that all energies increased evenly.

This meant that he could now consume amrita without worrying about any problems.

*Crunch*

[Mmm. Amrita after meditation has a different flavor.]

He had also realized something after becoming an Imugi.  Although his body had become smaller, the amount of energy it required had more than doubled.  He now devoured five to seven pieces of amrita a day.

“Meow! Meow!”

[Silphy.  She’s looking for you.]

-She’s looking for *you*, not me.

Oh, and Silphy and I had been avoiding playing with Cheong recently.  The reason?  Ever since the man covered in scars had left, she had been burning with an unusual amount of zeal.

[I played with her yesterday, so it’s your turn today.]

-Hmph. Cheong… Can’t we just play normally today?

“Meow! Meooow! Mrow!”

-Alright, alright.

So Cheong spent her days in “play,” which was actually sparring. Of course, since she couldn’t “play” (spar) alone, either Silphy or he had to step up.  They couldn’t help but break out in a cold sweat as they dealt with the increasingly stronger tiger cub.

[Then I’ll be back soon.]

*Bang! Thump!*

Leaving behind the ominous sounds that answered him, he left the cave for a while.  Normally, he wouldn’t leave the cave. But now it was different.  Becoming a mythical creature allowed him to gauge his strength, even if not precisely.  Ordinary beasts were no match for him.  And with this objective assessment, his range of activity had greatly increased.

[I wish the others had come too.]

He didn’t know about Cheong, but Silphy still didn’t like going outside.  Thankfully, she didn’t completely panic like the first time she went out.  Still, her reluctance remained.

[Ah, have I arrived?]

He reached his destination. A giant tree stood out, its enormous size and vigorous life force making other trees look ridiculous in comparison.

[Still strong as ever, I see.]

He smiled as he looked at the branches stretching straight upwards.  This tree had grown by absorbing the Wood energy he had released into the ground after becoming an Imugi.  Perhaps due to the pure Wood energy, the tree’s growth rate was astounding.  While his scales dried and his body regained its firmness, the once below-average sapling had grown into this enormous giant.  Its growth rate might even surpass his and Cheong’s.

[So.  No one bothering you today?]

*Hmm*

He had been visiting this giant tree every day recently. The reason was that the tree seemed to have developed… a will, a sentience.  When he spoke, it would faintly stir its mana and rustle its leaves.

‘I’m glad you’re healthy today.’

Perhaps that was why he felt a strange sense of responsibility.  In a way, this tree was born because of him.  Moreover, it had its own thoughts and the will to express them.  With its imposing size, it was hard to ignore.

[I’ll bring Cheong and Silphy next time.]

Of course, Cheong and Silphy knew about this. However, the chances of them coming here were about the same as pulling an ultra-super-rare item in a gacha game!  Silphy was very interested but not enough to leave the cave and come here, and Cheong had an oddly disapproving look on her face and would only come if he pleaded with her.

*Hmm*

Unlike them, the giant tree liked Cheong and Silphy.  How could he not bring them?

*Whoosh*

He watered the tree using Water energy and expanded his senses.  He needed to constantly check for approaching presences using mana in this area, as the giant tree was located on the border.

*Rustle*

The border between where mana became dense and where it didn’t.  That was why ordinary beasts and insects didn’t come here.  And the giant tree, with its unusually strong life force, attracted them even more frequently than other trees.

‘I guess it won’t be quiet today either.’

He watered the tree and expanded his senses.  Soon, he detected a group approaching.

[I’ll be back.]

*Hmm*

He moved in the direction of the approaching group and soon spotted a herd of rhinoceroses. He had seen rhinoceroses, lions, and wolves here.  He hadn’t seen any elephants yet.  Perhaps because it was an ancient era, various animals thrived here.

‘But the one that looks like the leader is huge.’

A herd of rhinoceroses. Among them, the leader, who seemed to be commanding the others at the forefront, was gigantic and intimidating.

[Stop.  Stop right there.]

His will, imbued with mana, was transmitted to the rhinoceros herd.  When the leader stopped, the others, puzzled, followed suit.

[I don’t know why you’ve come here, but you can’t go any further.]

In fact, he knew.  These rhinoceroses, and all the other creatures that came here, had the same purpose and reason.

‘The giant tree’s powerful life force.’

They had come to satisfy their primal desire to become stronger by absorbing that life force.  The leader had probably brought the herd to intimidate any competition.

Of course, there was a possibility that they had come here for other reasons.  Perhaps the herd had split up and they were desperately searching for a way to survive.

[You are filled with the desire for strength.]

But looking at the leader rhinoceros, he knew that such possibilities were nonsense.

“Grrrr.”

[Go back.]

They clearly had the advantage in terms of size and numbers. He was small and alone, while they were large and many.  But the leader rhinoceros hesitated to attack.

[You don’t want to fight me, do you?]

Because he was a mythical creature.  Not just any mythical creature, but an Imugi. Although he looked insignificant enough to be ignored and trampled upon, the power he exuded was not to be taken lightly.  And if one looked closely, the leader’s pupils were trembling incessantly, as if it was afraid.  Such opponents were easy to deal with.

“Grrrr…”

[This is my final warning.]

If they still intended to pass after he had said this much…

*Whoosh*

[You will have to be prepared to lose your lives.]

With flames flickering from his mouth, the leader rhinoceros, its eyes filled with fear, turned and led the herd away.

—–CROW—–