Chapter 44 Third Evolution
Tang So-yeong?
How did she get here?
No.
That’s not the important thing.
The important thing is that someone from the Tang family is touching Nephila Jurassica’s body.
And that she is demanding the Core.
She can be saved.
Crack!
I quickly tore into the Dilophosaurus’s body.
As I ripped it apart with my claws, I could see a large Core mixed with purple and green.
[High-level Core (Green)]
I bit the Core and quickly ran.
Because I defeated the Dilopho, my level increased, and all my injuries were healed.
Whoosh!
“Gegegek!”
I hurriedly handed the Core to Tang So-yeong.
Without even looking at me, she took the Core.
She accurately cut it in half and put it into Nephila Jurassica’s mouth.
Tap.
She pressed Nephila Jurassica’s acupoints with her hands and saliva.
“Gek….”
I watched Nephila with worried eyes.
The bleeding stopped, but her condition still looked serious.
After a few more acupuncture points, Tang So-yeong looked at me and nodded.
That must mean it’s okay to come closer now.
Her chest was rising and falling.
It was faint, but she was definitely breathing.
“Gegegek!”
She was alive.
She hadn’t died.
Plop.
Hot tears fell from my eyes.
They caught Nephila Jurassica’s eye.
She looked at me and smiled slightly, just as before.
Her delicate hand wiped away my tears.
The difference now was that it wouldn’t fall powerlessly anymore.
Spider.
I made eye contact with Nephila.
Eight red eyes looked at me.
…Huh?
Eight eyes?
There were definitely only two before.
The soft touch on my cheek had somehow changed.
It felt like a very sharp and hard knife was touching me.
“Kieeeek!”
Nephila.
I’m glad you’re alive, but this is suddenly overwhelming.
“Kieeeeeeek!”
“Gek!”
Stop!
Get away for now!
*
“It’s a relief. I somehow managed to reverse the excessive use of force.”
Thanks to Tang So-yeong, Nephila Jurassica could be saved.
Of course, it was quite, extremely, very disappointing that her beautiful face was gone, but still, saving her life was something.
But how did she come back here?
Even after being poisoned by Dilopho.
“I was really surprised. I didn’t realize I had been poisoned. I thought I understood all of Dilopho’s poisons, but I didn’t expect it to hide its power….”
I clicked my tongue at Dilopho’s cunning.
Well, if Tang So-yeong had known all of its power, she would have given me more caution.
No, the Tang family wouldn’t have entrusted her with the management of the Dilophosaurus. Her abilities were great, but her martial power was insignificant.
“It’s thanks to you, Dae-hyeop. Thank you so much. It pained me to run away and leave you, but fortunately, this spider helped.”
Helped?
“She gave me herbs with detoxifying properties. Normally, spiders wouldn’t know such things, so this spider must have stayed with our Tang family.”
Nephila Jurassica, who was hovering around me, had met the fleeing Tang So-yeong.
She gave her the antidote and quickly came to me, while Tang So-yeong waited for the poison to be detoxified and then arrived now.
I glanced at Nephila Jurassica.
She was diligently pulling my tail with her long legs.
Tus and Pus watched her actions while hanging on my tail.
Normally, they would have been shrieking to stop her, but their determined expressions made me wonder.
Was there something that only spiders could communicate, or was she thinking differently because of this incident?
I’m glad everyone was safe.
If even one of them hadn’t been here, this result wouldn’t have come.
I saved everyone.
I didn’t lose a single one.
“…It’s painful to lose Dilopho, but it’s something that can’t be helped.”
There was one loss after all.
“Dae-hyeop. Open your mouth.”
Tang So-yeong’s sudden request.
I’m not a child.
Ahhh.
I opened my mouth wide.
At the same time, Tang So-yeong put something in my mouth.
Was it medicine?
I tasted a familiar bitterness.
…This is a Core!
“Gegegek!”
I don’t even have enough to feed Nephila!
Just as I was about to spit the Core out forcibly.
“Dae-hyeop, you should eat it. I already gave half to the spider lady. Consuming more than this would be poisonous.”
Really?
Then there’s no choice.
…No, wait.
“Gek.”
I stretched my tail to point at Dilopho’s corpse.
I meant that since her spirit beast died, shouldn’t she at least retrieve the Core?
“I’m fine. Dae-hyeop, please eat it. You defeated it, so it’s only right.”
If she says so, I have no choice.
If you thought I’d ask twice, you’d be disappointed.
Gulp.
This familiar taste.
It had been a long time since I last consumed a Core.
My body warmed up naturally.
“…And right now, Dae-hyeop needs that Core the most.”
The more Cores, the better.
“We need to monitor the spider lady’s condition. It will take some time, so Dae-hyeop, please do what you need to do.”
As she said that, her gaze returned to Nephila Jurassica.
Nephila Jurassica, who now had a completely spider form, not even a trace of human shape.
I wondered if she could treat her well, but then realized it was unnecessary worry.
She had always known animals better than humans.
Crack.
“Kieeeeng!”
“Feels good, right?”
I didn’t know why a martial artist was giving chiropractic treatment to a spider, but I decided to let it go.
I knew well what I had to do.
Constantly shifting messages.
And finally reaching the maximum level.
# Chapter 44
## Third Evolution
【Crocodile King Lizard LV20(+)】
Upon defeating the Dilophosaurus, I reached level 20.
The symbol attached to the level.
It was now time to evolve.
Dragging the Dilophosaurus’s meat, I entered the collapsed nest.
[You are enveloped in a mystical energy.]
I felt the power of the Core I had just eaten.
This was different from an ordinary Core.
[Evolution is possible.]
Perhaps because of its color, I could feel the pure power of the Dilopho.
[Do you wish to evolve?]
Of course!
__________________________
【Crocodile King Lizard】
1. 【Gavial】
2. 【Reticulated Python】
3. 【Komodo Dragon】
__________________________
Unusual choices like the Thylacine or Dimetrodon didn’t appear.
All three options were reasonable choices.
I was a little surprised that the Komodo Dragon was a regular evolution rather than a special evolution.
Well, since it evolved directly from the Crocodile King Lizard, the Komodo should be expected.
__________________________
【Gavial】
Its body length is about 3 to 6 meters, and its weight is around 160 kg. It is a type of crocodile characterized by its slender and long snout and thin teeth. It has a habit of living in groups and communicates with a unique cry.
__________________________
Gavial.
A good option right from the start.
Its size was impressive.
It was over twice the weight and length of a typical Piranha Caiman.
If I chose this one, it would make things quite convenient.
But it had a critical downside.
Gavials were ugly.
So much so that it was embarrassing to even call them crocodiles.
Let’s move on.
__________________________
【Reticulated Python】
It grows up to 9 meters and weighs up to 100 kg, making it the longest existing snake. It hunts by slowly constricting its prey using its overwhelming size and muscles. There are records of large individuals preying on crocodiles and sun bears.
__________________________
The longest existing snake.
Of course, it’s smaller than the Titanoboa.
The Reticulated Python also had an excellent size.
Its basic combat power was outstanding.
The problem was that it would literally turn me from a lizard into a snake.
I’d lose my legs.
I wouldn’t be able to use Soaring Dragon’s Ascension Step or Dragon Claws.
Regrettably, you’re also a pass.
__________________________
【Komodo Dragon】
It grows up to 3.6 meters and weighs up to 160 kg, making it the largest existing lizard. It is a powerful predator that brutally hunts its prey with serrated teeth reminiscent of theropods. It is also skilled in long-term battles using the bacteria in its saliva and venom, but most opponents collapse before the venom takes effect.
__________________________
This is it.
This is the right lizard.
A lizard weighing up to 160 kg.
Of course, that’s the maximum record, so the average would be about 80 kg.
Even at that size, it would solve all my problems.
There was nothing more to see.
Even if a special evolution appeared, there was no way it would be a better choice than the Komodo Dragon.
[You have met the conditions for special evolution.]
Still, I should check it out.
[Achieved a feat that astonished the Allosaurus!]
Huh?
[Achieved an incredible feat.]
This was a message I had never seen before.
[A hidden option is revealed as a reward.]
A hidden option?
Something felt off.
It wasn’t a special evolution.
It was an entirely different word.
With a pounding heart, I looked at the options.
__________________________
【Crocodile King Lizard】
1. 【Gavial】
2. 【Reticulated Python】
3. 【Komodo Dragon】
4. 【Gomodo Dragon】(「Dragon Scales」「Reverse Scale Qi」「Nine Yin White Bone Claws」, consumed a fragment of a high-level Core (Green))
__________________________
Wait a minute.
What is that long label?
And why is there a Komodo here?
Was Tang So-yeong’s nonsense not nonsense after all?
Was there really a Gomodo?
Not a Komodo, but?