Chapter 162: Lizards Are Cold
The guardian of the volcano is not at the summit but halfway up.
It’s not that strange of a situation.
It might explain why the Magnosaurus descended.
It must have come down because of that fire rat.
If so, then what’s the source of the roaring sounds coming from above?
“Kakakakak!”
The fire rat stared at me.
Even without much thought, I knew I had to take it down.
Something about leaving it alone made me suspect it could use abilities like hypnosis or brainwashing.
Ssshh!
I immediately brought the hidden elixir from my tail to my mouth.
Gulp.
[You temporarily gain strong resistance to fire energy.]
With this, I could offset the fire attacks of the creature to some extent.
The plan had changed a little, but the objective remained the same.
“Geggek!”
“Kakakak!”
It looked unmistakably like a rat.
But the aura it emitted was anything but ordinary.
Fwoosh!
Given the distance, the initiative belonged to the creature.
A rat, yet it spewed fire from its mouth.
Its firepower couldn’t even be compared to the Magnosaurus.
Though I had resistance and could endure an attack or two as a distraction, evasion was still the best option.
Pababat!
I used the essence of the Soaring Dragon’s Ascension Strike to kick off the ground and spring forward.
“Kakakat!”
The creature seemed to anticipate this and stomped hard on the ground.
Fwoosh!
Flames surged violently from the cracks in the earth.
Shhh!
Twisting my body, I narrowly evaded its attack.
Ssshhh!
The fire rat kept attacking relentlessly, as if refusing to give me a turn.
A rain of fire poured down from the sky.
The secret art of the volcano, Mancheonhwau (Ten Thousand Flowers in Bloom).
[Using "Reverse Scale lv5."]
For Mancheonhwau, I countered with my own Mancheonhwau.
[Temporarily acquiring "Mancheonhwau."]
The Mancheonhwau I used was a crude imitation, derived from the Dilophosaurus.
Rather than properly launching hidden weapons, it was more of a haphazardly scattered attack.
When I fought the Magnosaurus, its Mancheonhwau had overwhelmingly superior firepower, so the fire rat’s would undoubtedly be even more formidable.
But this time, it was different.
I had prepared in advance.
The hidden weapons I unleashed were imbued with poison and cold energy.
They were the fur of the wolf pack.
Sssshhh!
Boom!
The fire burns the poison.
But to burn the poison, fire energy is inevitably consumed.
What would happen when those weakened flames clashed with hidden weapons infused with the chill of the White Wolf?
Crack-crack-crack!
It meant I would overpower it.
“Kaahhh!”
Finally, I closed the distance to a range suitable for melee combat.
I immediately swung the Dragon Claws.
Boom!
Living up to its title as a guardian, the fire rat dodged my attack with fluid movements.
It was undoubtedly strong.
Even though we hadn’t exchanged many blows, I could tell its senses were sharp.
Despite being larger than me, its agility wasn’t inferior.
Combined with its fire-based attacks, it was a formidable opponent.
“Kakakak!”
As soon as it dodged my attack, it aimed a sharp claw at my unguarded side.
Ssshh!
I quickly pulled my head back to avoid its strike.
Just as I was about to counterattack—
Fwoosh!
Flames erupted along the trajectory its claws had traced.
“Kakakakak!”
It seemed every one of its attacks triggered flames.
Had I not consumed the Pseudo Ice Orb, I’d have been steadily roasted just by staying in the fight.
Sssshhh!
Its claws came flying at me again.
I swung both my left and right hands simultaneously to deflect its attack.
Clang!
Clang!
The integrated offensive and defensive movement, enhanced by the essence of Responding to Life and Death Cycles, was enough to block the fire rat’s fiery claws.
“Kikikikit!”
But this technique had already been exposed before.
I had used it when fighting the Magnosaurus, so the other creatures of the volcano must have seen it.
The guardian of this place, the fire rat, likely relayed the information.
Given how it didn’t panic when I blocked Mancheonhwau, it’s reasonable to assume it knows about me.
Fwoosh!
The fire energy around it grew even fiercer.
As its firepower intensified, its speed also increased.
Having seen Responding to Life and Death Cycles in advance, it must have figured out a way to counter it.
Screeeech!
Kakak!
The exchanges between us were evenly matched.
But as the fire rat’s speed continued to increase, I’d inevitably be pushed back if this dragged on.
Of course, I wasn’t going to just sit idly by.
After all, I had a mighty weapon it didn’t possess.
Screeeech!
I swung my tail, covered in dragon scales.
The majority of my body length consisted of this tail.
When wielded like a whip, its destructive power surpassed even my full-strength Dragon Claws.
Boom!
“Kiieeeek!”
It was a direct hit.
It landed squarely on the fire rat’s side.
Splurt.
Bright red blood poured from the fire rat’s mouth.
It must have broken a few ribs.
Taking such an injury in an evenly matched fight meant the tide was turning in my favor.
Clang!
Bang!
After blocking all its attacks using Responding to Life and Death Cycles, I swung the Dragon Claws to target its head.
Boom!
A sudden, massive explosion occurred.
Abandoning the attack, I quickly leapt backward.
Kabooom!
A tremendous shockwave erupted, enough to alter the terrain.
“Kakak, kakakakak!”
Fwoooosh!
The fire rat’s body grew even larger, and the flames around it burned even fiercer.
No, it was more than that.
Molten lava began to flow from various parts of its body.
The idea that magma holds a dominant relationship over fire is common sense.
This must be its true power.
“Kaaaak!”
The fire rat let out a bizarre scream and charged at me.
Even for me, engaging in close combat with it in this state was something I had to avoid.
If we both landed a hit, the damage I’d take would be far worse.
Its body was larger and its firepower stronger than mine at the moment.
Yes.
The fire rat was bigger than me in my current state.
And at the moment, I was smaller than usual.
Spending time with the wolf pack was all part of preparing to take it down.
Gathering fur, infusing it with cold energy.
Hunting and collecting ingredients for elixirs.
And then—
[“State: Miniaturization” is canceled.]
I had been moving around at 80% of my full size using miniaturization.
Creak, crack.
[Due to the effects of “Miniaturization lv5,” “State: Gigantification” is applied.]
“Grrr…”
Now, I could finally look down at it.
I had planned to save this for later, but if I didn’t activate gigantification now, I’d suffer significant damage.
Boom!
I rammed into it with my shoulder.
“Kaaaaak!”
It flailed its arms, desperately trying to stab me.
But I wasn’t about to let it succeed.
Crunch!
I bit down hard on its shoulder.
“Kiaaaak!”
Gulp.
Gulp.
I didn’t think this would be enough to win.
But now that the poison had entered its body, it would act even more hastily.
Fwoooosh!
To shake me off, the fire rat ignited flames again.
Having achieved my goal, I retreated without hesitation.
Tap, tap!
“Kaaak! Kieeeek!”
The fire rat clutched its shoulder.
Yes. With the poison coursing through its body, it must be panicking.
Kabooom!
...It blew up its own shoulder.
“Kiaaaak!”
It’s tougher than it looks.
The lava flowing from its ruptured shoulder gathered together.
No, it would be more accurate to say that one of its arms had entirely turned into lava itself.
“Kakakakak!”
The fire rat glared at me.
Even with my resistance to fire energy, that thing seemed dangerous.
Flash!
The fire rat’s figure vanished in an instant.
Ssssht!
It immediately attacked from a different angle.
The fire and lava grew fiercer, and it began spinning at high speed.
It was like a car made of fire.
Its entire body had become a weapon.
Boom!
The sheer physical force.
Fwoosh!
And the flames.
If its attack penetrated my scales, the inside of my body would start cooking.
Boom!
Sssizzle…
I swung the Dragon Claws at its head as it lunged, but the intense heat prevented me from inflicting any real damage.
Meanwhile, the creature only needed to collide with me to deal devastating harm.
Ssssssht!
Lizards are creatures that cannot regulate their body temperature.
Even with resistance to fire energy, it was difficult to stop my internal temperature from rising.
“Kakakakak!”
“Grrr…”
In other words, its attacks weren’t just burning my exterior but were heating up my insides as well.
Thud!
Using my size advantage, I shoved it away once again.
Boom!
“Grrrk… Gahh…”
The rising temperature was making me dizzy.
“Kakakakak!”
However, the fire rat didn’t look like it was in good condition either, perhaps from overexerting itself.
Fwoooosh!
Despite this, it ignited its body once more.
The fire rat had now become fire itself.
I also prepared to counter its attack.
Woom…
I concentrated internal energy at the tips of my claws.
A faint, blue aura began to rise.
It was Sword Energy.
Before the fire rat could react, I swung my forepaw.
Boom!
But my target wasn’t the fire rat—it was my own body.
To be precise, the scales on my chest.
My dragon scales were tough, but using sword energy, I could pierce them easily.
“Kah?”
The fire rat seemed momentarily bewildered by my sudden behavior.
It wouldn’t understand my actions.
After going to the trouble of using sword energy, why would I harm myself?
Blood flowed freely from my chest.
A situation that could be seen as a critical injury.
But it wasn’t a major issue.
[Your blood is imbued with powerful cold energy.]
Crack-crack-crack!
The cold energy subdued the fire invading my body and manifested its properties externally where the blood spread.
Sssssht…
Not only was I cooling my body, but I had also created a weapon capable of dealing fatal damage to the fire rat.
“Kieeeek!”
The fire rat, now realizing the situation, rushed at me in haste.
Spiritual beasts that manipulate fire often share its nature.
They are ferocious enough to burn everything, but they lack foresight.
Once ignited, they don’t extinguish easily.
The creature before me was no different.
When I revealed my hidden card, it chose to confront me head-on rather than retreat.
[Using “Reverse Scale lv5.”]
How considerate.
[Temporarily acquiring “The Reverberating Aura That Covers the World.”]
Thrum!
Profound internal energy weighed down on the fire rat.
For a spiritual beast of its caliber, it would only cause a sense of pressure, but that was enough.
Boom!
Kicking off the ground, I charged at it.
“Kaaahhh!”
The fire rat spewed a massive ball of flame.
To attack it, I would have to take that head-on.
I could endure it.
Cold energy enveloped my body, and with my strong resistance to fire energy, taking that hit wouldn’t kill me outright.
Instead of dodging, I increased my speed.
“Awooo!”
At the sound of a wolf’s howl, a massive ice wolf figure clashed with the fireball.
…It couldn’t be that the White Wolf came all the way here, so this must have been embedded in the Pseudo Ice Orb.
Designed to activate on its own when I was in danger.
I should probably give it a belly rub or something when I get back.
Ssssht!
As I pushed through the steam and reached the fire rat, its blazing red claws came flying at me as if waiting for this moment.
This was probably its final blow.
“Kieeeek!”
The blue Sword Energy once again gathered in my hand.
Ssssht!
One of its forepaws, made of lava, was severed clean off.
“Kaaaak!”
The fire rat screamed, burning its body in desperation.
This was the end.
Crunch!
I sank my teeth into its neck.
[Using “Reverse Scale lv5.”]
[Temporarily acquiring “Gecko Death Beam lv5.”]
Ssssst...
Zappp!
The Gecko Beam, infused with the Pseudo Ice Orb’s cold energy, pierced right through its neck.
“Krrrk… Kieeek….”
Crack-crack.
The terrain changed.
The fire rat of the volcano had become an ice statue with a hole in its neck, and the lava reservoir had solidified into stone.
That meant—
[Your level has increased.]
[Your level has increased.]
[Your level has increased.]
“Geggek!”
It meant I had defeated the guardian.
[A mystical energy envelops your body.]
It also meant I could finally evolve.
“Geggegegek!”
I let out a continuous roar of triumph.
At last, I could evolve.
I had been waiting so long for this moment.
…
…
But why did I feel so strange?
“…Geggek.”
Crisis Detection and Killing Intent Detection seemed to be trying to tell me something.
I had definitely defeated the fire rat, so why was this happening?
Wait.
Come to think of it, at some point, the roaring sounds from the summit had stopped.
…Something was off.
It felt just like the time I first encountered the Snake Queen.
Like waking up to find a massive basilisk glaring at me.
Maybe this was even worse.
Someone was definitely watching me.