Chapter 32 Deinonychus
When people think of swamps, they often imagine stagnant water, but that’s a misconception.
Swamps have their own unique environment. Mangrove trees and lotus leaves floating on the water. Insects gather here to live, small animals come to prey on them, and other animals hunt those small animals. And then there are the larger animals that come just to drink the water, ignoring all the others.
This place was an ecosystem in itself.
It was a gathering place for diverse creatures, each with its own purpose.
For some, it was a home; for others, a source of food or water.
Swoosh.
In my case, it was all three.
And right now, I was hunting.
The key to hunting is patience.
I calmly waited for my prey.
Under the water’s surface, I kept my eyes wide open and spread my body to feel the slightest vibrations.
Plop.
A small ripple appeared.
Someone was here.
Judging by the size of the ripples, it wasn’t very big.
Based on past experiences, it was likely a Microraptor.
Plop.
The creature dipped its head into the water.
An inexperienced hunter would have hastily revealed itself.
And missed its prey.
The moment an animal drinks water is when it’s most alert.
It wasn’t time yet.
I waited longer.
Plop.
Now, just as it was pulling its head back from drinking!
Splash!
“Kiieeek!”
The Microraptor screeched and flapped its front legs.
But it was too late.
There was no way it could react to my speed, which was faster than a caiman’s.
“Kikik! Kiieeek!”
The prey, now in my mouth, struggled to escape, but it surely realized it was pointless.
Crunch!
Snap.
Gulp.
I chewed and swallowed it whole, bones and all.
The taste was quite satisfying. It was almost a shame to compare it to insects.
Chewing the bones gave it a savory flavor.
Although the hunt was successful, it was a bit disappointing.
The commotion from catching it had scared away all other potential prey in the vicinity.
Today’s hunt was over.
Next time, I should aim for something bigger.
Last time, I had accidentally hunted a Protoceratops, and it was quite satisfying.
The Microraptor tasted better, but the amount of meat from the Protoceratops was on a different level.
After wiping the blood from my mouth, I stood up on two legs.
Even after evolving, I had to get used to moving on two legs.
Hunting like a crocodile yielded the highest success rate, so I often used this method, but it made my behavior more like a crocodile too. I even tried to use a death roll without realizing it.
I had to reclaim my identity.
Thud!
I ran, kicking off the water’s surface.
Despite my increased size, the noise was minimal.
Thanks to my almost perfect mastery of the Soaring Dragon’s Ascension Step.
I arrived at a large mangrove tree.
It was a new home I built after the caiman destroyed the old one.
Originally, Crocodile King Lizards lived not in water but in trees.
Reflecting that characteristic, I chose a tree with wide branches to make my nest.
A natural bed made of spider silk and leaves.
A screen to block the sunlight.
The caiman’s skin, spread out as if in pride.
Dried toad jerky prepared for when I got hungry.
Two spiders greeting me warmly.
“Kiieek!”
Yes, nice to see you too.
It was a stable life.
This could be considered a successful life.
There was no real threat to my life, and I succeeded in hunting every time.
…At this rate, wouldn’t it be okay to take a look at the upper part of the swamp?
How different could it be?
Yes, let’s take a look.
If it seems manageable, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to expand north.
Tus and Pus.
I’ll be out for a bit.
“Gek gek.”
If you get hungry, eat the toad jerky. The poison should be gone by now.
“Kieek!”
Tus and Pus waved their short legs as they saw me off.
And so, I headed to the upper part of the swamp.
I had some confidence.
Despite how I looked, I had eaten a few dinosaurs.
Of course, they were smaller than me, like Microraptors and Protoceratops.
If I could take down that monstrous caiman, what was there to fear?
I had grown to the same size as a caiman.
Come on, new world.
My youthful ambition flew away the moment I crossed the hill.
“Kikikikik!”
A sinister cry.
【Deinonychus LV9】
【Deinonychus LV4】
【Deinonychus LV6】
….
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【Deinonychus】
With a body length of 3 meters and a weight of 60-100kg, this small carnivorous dinosaur is a highly intelligent hunter that forms packs to hunt large dinosaurs. Its second toe on the hind legs is extremely sharp, and it prefers to pierce the belly of its prey, causing excessive bleeding.
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Deinonychus.
Everyone knows the intelligent Velociraptors from the movies.
These guys are the model for those Velociraptors.
Even one of them had better specs than me.
And now they were in a pack.
“Krarrra!”
My shock didn’t end there.
Because I saw another dinosaur fighting them.
【Baryonyx LV22】
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【Baryonyx】
With a body length of 7-10 meters and a weight of 1.2-2 tons, this medium-sized carnivorous dinosaur has a long, crocodile-like snout filled with dense teeth and claws over 30cm long, specialized for hunting fish. However, it is also a skilled hunter that does not hesitate to attack and hunt other dinosaurs.
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If I had to define this guy in one word, it would be a degraded version of Spinosaurus.
Remove the sail on its back and reduce its size a bit, and you get Baryonyx.
So, I thought it was manageable.
But seeing it with my own eyes now, I regretted that thought.
How could that be a medium-sized carnivorous dinosaur?
The ground shook with each step it took.
If the Piranha Caiman had met that guy, it would have been nothing more than a meal.
That’s how overwhelming it was.
The battle between Deinonychus and Baryonyx.
Normally, I should have run away immediately, but my feet were glued to the spot.
Thump.
My heart pounded fast.
I was witnessing a dinosaur fight in person.
Not just any dinosaurs, but renowned ones.
I had to see this even if it was dangerous.
Just watching a fight between such skilled creatures would be valuable.
I was curious. Despite being in a group of six, the Deinonychus dared to attack a Baryonyx. And wasn’t that swamp the Baryonyx’s territory?
Baryonyx swung its massive forelimb at the Deinonychus.
Swish!
The sound alone sent shivers through my body.
Deinonychus dodged the attack with swift movements.
“Krraaaak!”
Baryonyx roared and charged at them at an incredible speed.
Boom.
Boom.
Thud thud thud!
Deinonychus scattered at once.
The lead one dodged the attack while others targeted the unprotected tail.
“Krurrrrk!”
Wait a minute.
Something felt off.
It’s natural for creatures to hunt in groups.
It was also the strength of that species.
But why did their movements look so awkward to me?
To be precise, they didn’t look like dinosaur movements.
I realized the source of my discomfort.
The position of their feet.
And the consistent pattern of attacking and retreating.
They were using a formation.
Moreover, the fact that the lead kept changing suggested they were employing a strategy similar to a rotating battle formation.
They must have something to rely on to challenge that monster.
As time passed, the Deinonychus gained the upper hand.
A rotating battle formation.
Like the wheel of a cart, they rotated the lead to conserve energy while draining the opponent’s strength.
Baryonyx was exhausted, while the Deinonychus remained fine.
At this rate, it was clear that the giant would fall.
But the Deinonychus were being careless.
They had forgotten that they were fighting near the water’s edge.
“Krwaaaak!”
Baryonyx, having figured out the Deinonychus’s formation, predicted their position and swung its tail.
Boom!
As a result, one Deinonychus was hit directly by the tail.
The result was immediate death.
Given that it was struck by such a giant, it was an obvious outcome.
“Krurrrk….”
Baryonyx eyed its next target.
“Kik! Kikiik!”
The Deinonychus raised their cries.
“Krraaa!”
As Baryonyx charged at them again, they turned and began to flee.
It was a quick decision.
They realized that without one member, they couldn’t face that monster.
Instead of pursuing them, Baryonyx chose to eat the dead Deinonychus.
Crunch.
…What did I just witness?
It was a fight that far exceeded my imagination.
I thought it would be just dinosaurs brawling, but it was more sophisticated than any fight I’d seen.
Deception and real moves. Formation tactics and rotating battles. Analysis through observation and swift, rational decisions.
How could this be a fight between mute beasts?
Yes.
I shouldn’t go near there for a while.
There was a reason the caiman stayed there.
The silver lining was that they didn
’t seem to intend to cross over to where I was due to the terrain. If they did, the caiman wouldn’t have been the master of the swamp.
Phew.
I should steer clear of that.
I should also warn Tus and Pus.
If they get curious and attract attention, the creatures might come over.
…But who would be foolish enough to go in there willingly?
*
“Huff…”
Eight third-rate martial artists panted heavily.
“What a mess we’re in!”
They had followed Namgoong Yeon after hearing about a big opportunity.
But instead of a spirit creature, they encountered the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and scattered in all directions.
“Phew… Even so, those demonic cult bastards aren’t much, are they? We’ve survived this long.”
“Heheh. You’re right. Those demonic cult bastards. Thanks to them, we’ve ended up in the middle of the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains.”
They had no way of knowing how hard the Left Guardian had tried not to kill them.
These were third-rate martial artists, not even second-rate.
In simple terms, they were street thugs.
Namgoong Yeon had brought them along as expendable pawns, blinded by greed.
As they laughed, they heard someone sobbing nearby.
“Uwaaa…”
It was a girl with pigtails who had fled with them.
“Who’s that unlucky…”
“Wait.”
A red-haired man stopped another from cursing.
He then walked up to the girl.
“Come to think of it, aren’t you from the Tang Clan?”
“Uwaa… I am…”
Faces brightened.
A member of the Five Great Clans was among them.
They had been worried since everyone had similar skill levels. But if someone from the Tang Clan was here, things were different. They could expect someone with significant internal energy and the ability to handle poison, which was deadly to spirit creatures.
They were relieved.
But then a question arose.
Why was she crying so sadly?
“Why are you crying?”
“Dal Dae-hyeop is missing…. Uwaa…”
Dal Dae-hyeop. The red-haired man thought deeply.
He recalled a spirit creature trapped in their cage.
At the moment the explosive went off, it had broken out of the cage and escaped.
That must be the Tang Clan’s spirit creature. The poisonous aura was strong even when near it.
“Don’t worry. If you keep your wits about you, you’ll meet him again.”
The red-haired man decided to gain her favor.
Befriending a master was always a good investment.
He even fantasized about connecting with the Tang Clan after escaping this place.
“But…”
“But?”
“I’m in charge of serving Dal Dae-hyeop, not fighting…”
Useless, absolutely useless.
Several men spat on the ground.
By appearance, she was no different from an ordinary woman.
Her internal energy didn’t seem significant for someone from the Tang Clan.
Expecting her to fight was pointless.
In other words, she was just extra baggage.
But they couldn’t show it.
She was definitely from the Tang Clan.
If they mistreated her, they might be killed without a trace upon returning.
The red-haired man saw it as an opportunity.
It would be tough, but if he protected her, he could establish a firm connection with the Tang Clan.
“Haha. Don’t worry. You’ve heard of the nickname Blood Lion, haven’t you?”
The girl with pigtails, Tang So-yeong, tilted her head.
“Huh? Blood… Lion?”
The Blood Lion nodded silently.
Spreading money among the beggars of the Beggars’ Sect had its benefits.
Even the Tang Clan’s daughter knew his nickname.
“Nowadays, even third-rate martial artists give themselves nicknames?”
Tang So-yeong, sniffling, spoke her mind.
“…Miss, what did you just say?”
“Eek! Sorry… I just said it’s really disgusting for third-rate martial artists to give themselves pretentious nicknames…”
Tang So-yeong blew her nose.
The Blood Lion couldn’t tell if his ears or eyes were deceiving him.
How could she be so sharp-tongued while looking so vulnerable?
“You…!”
As the Blood Lion was about to lash out, the other martial artists stopped him.
“Hey, man. Why are you getting so worked up? You won’t be able to drink water at ease if you do that.”
Don’t mess with the Tang Clan.
It was a warning from his fellow martial artist.
If you’re going to mess with them, do it right.
That was also implied.
“Ahem. Since things have calmed down, why don’t we share our thoughts? I am… No, my name is Jang Bong.”
Jang Bong was about to mention the nickname he had paid a hefty price to create but stopped himself.
Tang So-yeong’s green eyes were glaring at him.
He didn’t know what kind of insult he might hear if he mentioned it.
“Hmph. What’s there to discuss? Those stupid demonic cult bastards have entered the garden, so we should grab as many elixirs as we can.”
“It’s better to move together. Even if we obtain elixirs, if they don’t suit our constitution, we can’t use them. Here’s what I think…”
Some were busy discussing, some were fuming over insults, and others were plotting plans.
Their focus was commendable.
Because they didn’t notice the hungry pack of Deinonychus approaching until it was too late.