Chapter 176: Domain Expansion
It took a considerable amount of time to calm Baekrang down.
After giving him a special Komodo-style massage course for about an hour, he finally seemed satisfied and reverted to his wolf form.
Just as I thought I could take a break, Red Dragon approached, asking for the same treatment, so I had to repeat the process.
…But it was fine.
While stroking Red Dragon and Baekrang, I achieved my initial goal.
What was it? Naturally, it was to make them join the Gecko Faith.
I didn’t want to recall the immense trouble I went through to accomplish that.
“Grrrr…”
“Growwwl…”
Red Dragon and Baekrang let out low growls.
These sounds indicated that they had returned to their original forms, abandoning their human appearances.
The reason I made them revert to their large spiritual beast forms was simple—staying in human form caused all sorts of complications.
A lizard lying down alongside two women with collars around their necks.
Even with a lizard's mindset, or a human's, it was clear the situation seemed a bit odd.
Though I wasn’t the one who put the collars on them, the fact that their leashes ended in my hand made any excuses pointless.
Anyone who saw us would immediately misunderstand me as some degenerate lizard and come to capture me.
…Of course, they’d be burned by flames or frozen solid before they got the chance.
“Yee-haw!”
I could hear the distant roars of the Igaksus.
I was starting to get scared.
What on earth were those creatures?
Whoosh.
Crackle.
“Whimper…”
Seeing a pitiful lizard caught between flames and frost brought them so much joy.
But I didn’t feel too bad about it.
Why? Because, as I mentioned earlier, I had finally succeeded in making the two spiritual beasts join the Gecko Faith.
Though it had taken a roundabout path, it seemed to have improved the relationship between Baekrang and Red Dragon.
“Grrrrr…”
“Arrrrrr…”
…Although they were still baring their teeth at each other, as members of the Gecko Faith, they wouldn’t fight outright.
Especially not in front of the Divine Beast.
“Gegeck!”
After letting out the mighty cry of a valiant gecko, I eagerly awaited a message from my cherished status window.
With two spiritual beasts joining the faith, it was certain that I would be rewarded with something.
…Why was it taking so long today?
Whoosh.
Crackle.
At this rate, I’m going to turn into a semi-dried lizard, aren’t I?
[【Gecko Faith】 has been promoted from a Royal Lizard-grade religion to a Mid-Dragon-grade religion!]
Finally!
Could a religion really climb so far from the Royal Lizard rank?
It was a valid question, but the specs of the new believers were just too exceptional.
Not to mention, I had also become a Mid-level Dragon species as a Divine Beast.
[An achievement worthy of the Explosive Dragon has been attained!]
An achievement, huh.
They didn’t give me one when I defeated the Guardian of the Volcano.
Better late than never.
…But Explosive Dragon?
That name alone sounds intimidating.
I don’t know who it refers to, but it probably isn’t anything significant.
Like the "achievement that astonishes the Raptors" or the "achievement that baffles the Allosaurus," it’s likely just a measure of the difficulty of what I’ve accomplished.
Judging by the inclusion of “Dragon” in the name, it’s probably one of the top-tier achievements.
[You have reached Mid-Dragon-grade religion status with less than 10 members.]
“Geck-geck.”
Indeed, the Gecko Faith was far too small to be considered a religion.
The official number of believers was only four.
[Divine energy is accumulating in your religion.]
Oh.
Is the reward divine energy?
This was a fantastic reward.
When I was caught in the trap of the Inmyeonjo and fought the Beihj Bird, it was thanks to using divine energy that I managed to win.
Given my characteristic of recovering all health when leveling up, divine energy was an invaluable resource that could only be beneficial the more I accumulated it.
However, this couldn’t be the end.
With so many steps skipped, the reward had to be something monumental.
[You can now declare your domain.]
[Believers within your domain gain enhanced strength.]
[The number of believers within your domain increases your divine energy.]
“Ge-ge-geck!”
Something truly significant has appeared.
Declare a domain?
[You can declare your domain in this region.]
[Would you like to declare your domain?]
I didn’t know what it entailed, but I had to do it immediately.
This was an irresistible opportunity for a male lizard.
Domain Expansion.
“Geck!”
I let out a resounding lizard cry.
[The Dragon Gate (Volcano) has become your domain.]
Nice!
…Well, I wasn’t sure if this was actually good, but it didn’t seem like a bad thing to have.
The effect of strengthening believers alone made it quite useful.
Moreover, the believers in this volcano were Baekrang and Red Dragon.
They were already powerful spiritual beasts, but now they had become even stronger.
…What would happen if they ended up fighting?
I decided to set my worries aside for now and closely examine what I had gained.
Mid-Dragon-grade religion, a substantial amount of divine energy, and a domain.
It seemed like the time had come to delve deeply into religion rather than staying a mere lizard.
Though I didn’t know much about it, dragons were revered as gods in Eastern traditions.
Perhaps true dragons required religion as one of their conditions.
“…Geck.”
Geck-tastic.
【Gecko Faith】
Mid-Dragon-grade religion.
A religion based on the Gecko Faith doctrine, worshipping Komodo.
It is closely related to the Soaring Dragon Faith and the Snake Queen Faith.
While the number of members is small, their devotion and combat power are extremely high.
Members:
First believer: 【Arthrocofus lv30】
Second believer: 【Anthracomartus lv30】
Third believer: 【Tang So-yeong】
Fourth believer: 【Ball Python lv30】
Fifth believer: 【Baekrang lv75】
Sixth believer: 【Red Dragon lv135】
On the surface, it didn’t seem like much had changed.
But hold on—Red Dragon is level 135?
No wonder she was absurdly strong.
Not only is she a Mid-level Dragon species, but her level is that high.
…What does that make me, who fought on par with her?
I decided to look for other changes.
Since the domain was likely tied to religion, there had to be additional features.
Just as I was checking the status window…
[A large amount of divine energy has accumulated. The effects of 【Gecko Faith】 have increased.]
[【You can restructure the Gecko Faith.】]
[【Would you like to restructure the Gecko Faith?】]
Restructure?
Let’s think about this calmly, like a lizard would.
What could restructuring mean?
So far, this status window has never caused me any harm.
At most, it was when I recruited Shikshik?
…No, even that brought me significant benefits in the end.
I decided to trust it this time too.
“Geck!”
Flash!
The message I had been seeing blurred momentarily, then reappeared in a new form.
Suddenly, an overwhelming number of messages flooded my vision.
“Geck!”
Was it too much information all at once?
My head was hurting.
[【The Gecko Faith lacks sufficient divine energy.】]
…Huh?
The headache was from my divine energy suddenly draining, wasn’t it?
“Geck-geck!”
Did the restructuring use divine energy?
“…Geck.”
Oh, no.
“…Why are you staring at the air like that?”
Baekrang looked at me with a concerned expression.
“Geck. Geck-geck!”
It’s because I’m upset.
My precious divine energy was drained in an instant.
Shouldn’t it have warned me beforehand if it was going to use divine energy?
…Still, since the status window acted on its own, there must have been a reason.
Time to confirm the facts.
【Gecko Faith】
Mid-Dragon-grade religion.
A religion based on the doctrine of Gecko Faith, worshipping Komodo.
Closely related to the Soaring Dragon Faith and the Snake Queen Faith.
Despite having few members, the faith is highly devout and powerful.
[Domains]
Lower Swamp, Snake Queen’s Temple, Dragon Gate (Volcano)
[Members]
Shrine Maiden: 【Nephila Jurassica lv30】
Right Guardian: 【Arthrocofus lv30】
Left Guardian: 【Anthracomartus lv30】
Snake Princess: 【Ball Python lv35】
Divine Physician: 【Tang So-yeong】
Believer: 【Baekrang lv80】
Believer: 【Red Dragon lv140】
I wasn’t sure what had changed, but something definitely seemed different.
First, the domains.
I thought only this volcano was my domain, but it seemed other places were also being considered.
The lower swamp was a place I had conquered, and the Snake Queen’s Temple…
Was it considered part of my domain because of an alliance?
But the Snake Queen’s domain covers half the jungle.
…Hmm, I wasn’t sure.
In any case, I learned that domains aren’t limited to just one location and can be set in multiple places.
There must be conditions, of course.
For example, going to the Dragon Gate guarded by the frost bird wouldn’t make it my domain.
I’d have to defeat the guardian and claim ownership first.
…Maybe I should visit the other Dragon Gates when I have more time.
The more domains I have, the better.
It might even be a good idea to make the spiders’ habitat my domain.
Tus, Pus.
And Nephila Jurassica and Tang So-yeong are there too.
…But that might be difficult.
It’s part of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult’s territory, so I can’t just claim it as my domain.
It would undoubtedly cause conflict with Baek Yeonyeong.
Even if I wag my tail adorably to win favor, the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult isn’t just Baek Yeonyeong.
That terrifying cult leader Tang So-yeong mentioned is a major obstacle.
Someone who could split a lizard like me in half… It’s better not to provoke them.
For now, that’s all I can confirm about domains.
My believers’ abilities are enhanced, and I benefit from that too.
I noticed Shikshik, White Pup, and Yongyongi, who reside in my domain, each gained five levels.
The higher the level, the more pronounced the effects seem to be.
And under certain conditions, I can expand my domains.
If I expand them or relocate the spiders to my domain, they’ll also benefit.
After reviewing this, I turned to examine my members.
…Why do they all have such grand titles?
It makes sense that Nephila Jurassica is the Shrine Maiden.
…But why are Tus and Pus the Right and Left Guardians?
I recalled an old memory.
When I first practiced breathing techniques, Tus and Pus were by my side, guarding me.
Yes.
They’re deserving of such titles.
Shikshik’s title is also fitting.
She’s the Snake Queen’s daughter, so the name Snake Princess isn’t strange at all.
Now let’s look at that Tang fellow.
…Why is she the Divine Physician?
Of all the things, that’s unacceptable.
“Geck-geck.”
My precious divine energy was used for this?
I can accept Tus and Pus as the Right and Left Guardians.
They were my first believers, after all.
But Tang So-yeong as Divine Physician?
That’s too much.
Maybe just a regular physician at most.
[Divine Physician 【Tang So-yeong】 has been demoted to Physician 【Tang So-yeong.】]
No, I didn’t mean it like that, but still…
[You have reclaimed the divine energy used on 【Tang So-yeong.】]
“…Geck?”
So that’s how this system works?
“Geck-geck-geck.”
I let out the laughter of a sinister lizard.
It seems the Gecko Faith uses divine energy to invest in believers.
It won’t waste my divine energy on meaningless titles.
Like my own title, the titles must have some effect.
If so much divine energy is consumed at once, the effect must be significant.
My mind raced.
The value of divine energy just skyrocketed.
It’s no longer just for leveling up; it can be used for a multitude of purposes.
For instance, appointing Red Dragon as the Grand Guardian could drastically increase her combat power.
And I would reap the benefits too.
What if I recruited a random beast and gave it an appropriate title?
That might benefit me as well.
It’s time to make active use of the Gecko Faith.
I looked around.
Though it’s a volcano, flowers had begun to bloom instead of flames.
It looked like a wonderful place to live.
The religion’s grade had risen, and strong believers had joined.
“Geck-geck-geck…”
I could build an impressive lair and relocate the believers here.
Starting with Baekrang’s siblings and the wandering Igaksus, I could recruit general believers one after another.
Divine energy would naturally accumulate, and it might elevate me to a higher dragon species.
“Ge-ge-geck!”
I now knew what I needed to do.
Bring as many of my connections here as possible.
And if I conquer the three nearby Dragon Gates one by one to expand my domain, I might become a true dragon.
“Ge-he-he-geck.”
I was already chuckling with satisfaction.
“…Are you feeling sick? Want me to freeze you a bit?”