I Became an Evolving Lizard in a Martial Arts Novel – Chapter 27

Chapter 27 Cordyceps

As soon as I woke up, a swarm of bugs rushed toward me.

It was my mistake.

I should have confirmed they were definitely dead before coming in.

But still, it wasn’t that big of a threat.

They were just bugs, after all.

Centipedes, house centipedes, millipedes.

I hunted them even when I was a Green Basilisk.

Now, they couldn’t possibly harm me.

Rather, it was a good opportunity to adapt to my evolved body.

Three centipedes rushed at me head-on.

I thought of the centipede I had sent away earlier, but I set aside my distractions for now.

Their sharp jaws aimed at me.

Thud!

But they couldn’t penetrate my armor.

Bang!

With a sweep of my left hand, I turned the three centipedes into mush.

“Kaang!”

In an instant, I took the lives of three.

Even bugs should recognize the difference between them and me.

I showed them my overwhelming performance and a dignified roar, breaking their will.

I had seized the initiative.

Now, they wouldn’t easily rush at me.

“Kieeeek!”

Despite seeing their vanguard crushed, the rest still charged at me.

Like zombies who had lost their reason.

The situation wasn’t good.

But still, the fact that they couldn’t harm me remained unchanged.

Boom!

I slammed the ground with my huge front foot.

It was to give them a sense of intimidation.

However, the effect was far beyond my expectations.

Thud!

The ones clinging to the ground were thrown into the air as if they were flying.

Was my strength really that great?

No, that wasn’t it.

It was because these creatures were abnormally light.

Not missing the opportunity, I moved quickly.

I dealt with the two in the front with my Dragon Claws and swept my long tail to catch those in the rear.

Pababak!

Their bodies crumbled all at once.

Yes, they crumbled rather than exploded.

Something was strange.

But now, I needed to focus on the enemies in front of me.

Now, a giant millipede was charging at me.

It was similar in size to the one that had attacked me before.

A parade of armored bodies approached.

Kugoo!

If this had been before my evolution, even a scratch would have caused significant damage.

But not now.

Kwang!

I took the charge head-on without dodging.

Jiiik.

I braced myself with my hind legs and endured the collision. Then, I opened my mouth and bit the creature’s neck.

Kwaduduk!

The millipede’s armor crumbled easily, like an old wooden board.

The taste was unpleasant.

…Have I dealt with the vanguard now?

“Kieek!”

A centipede’s jaws flew at me from the side.

Thud!

Its attack was thwarted by my armor, but its severed head kept chewing.

Something was wrong.

I should have turned it into mush.

How was it still moving?

It wasn’t just the centipedes.

All the creatures I had directly dealt with using Dragon Claws began to move.

There was something going on.

If I wasn’t mistaken, there were white mushrooms attached to their bodies.

That must be the real culprit.

Already dead bugs.

Mushrooms controlling them.

…Cordyceps!

When I focused my vision, I could see thin white threads between their body segments.

“Grarrr….”

I found the solution.

Snap!

I flicked away the house centipede charging at me with my tail.

Simultaneously, I lunged at the millipede that had started moving again.

Kwang!

My huge body knocked down the millipede that was trying to rise.

Kwadzik!

I struck its heart area with Dragon Claws.

Even if it wasn’t the main body, this should have immobilized it.

I should have killed the Cordyceps inside too.

But the creature didn’t die.

Sss.

The millipede got back up again.

And the centipedes and house centipedes started to reattach their severed parts.

And more bugs were running towards us from the back of the cave.

I realized that the main body was elsewhere, but the problem wasn’t solved.

Bang!

Snap!

I crushed their bodies to the point of turning them into powder.

But they didn’t die.

Kwak!

I even swallowed them whole.

They seemed dead for a moment.

But then, Cordyceps sprouted from somewhere and entered another body.

It became a battle that would only end if I ate all the bugs or if I died.

…Actually, eating them all wasn’t feasible either.

If the Cordyceps combined and became the last one standing, it could control me in reverse.

It wasn’t easy.

Not easy at all.

To make matters worse, the stone door had closed, so I couldn’t escape.

……

I thought about running away again.

No, I couldn’t.

I straightened my head and faced the situation.

The number of giant millipedes had increased to three.

And there were still bugs rushing at me.

It was dangerous.

But I wasn’t scared.

I had seen Baek Yeonyeong.

Compared to her overwhelming presence, these creatures were cute.

What would Baek Yeonyeong have done?

Yes, she would have done this.

I stepped on the ground.

Boom!

I put my full weight into the step.

Kugugu.

My internal energy, though not profound, pressed down on the bugs.

I didn’t know how to handle internal energy well, so it might not work on normal enemies.

But these creatures were already dead.

I could easily suppress the mushrooms controlling them.

The bugs couldn’t move their bodies.

Of course, I couldn’t move in this state either.

But that was okay.

I could see more clearly now.

The moment everything stopped, I saw a familiar shape.

【Entropezyte LV7】

【Status】

「Suppression」「Host」

__________________________

【Entropezyte】

The oldest parasitic mushroom.

It has the ability to control already dead bodies by scattering spores.

__________________________

So you’re the main body.

I immediately pushed off the ground and rushed at it.

The moment I moved, the aura suppressing the bugs disappeared.

Countless bugs swarmed at me.

They tried to block me to protect the main body.

Some bit my tail, while others blocked my path.

“Grrr….”

Crack.

I infused my claws with internal energy.

I focused all my strength and swung them hard.

Kwachik!

My sharp claws slashed through the bugs blocking me in one go.

My internal energy-infused strike didn’t stop there.

Kwagagagak!

I ground the Entropezyte into the rock wall.

Tududuk.

The bugs that had been desperately trying to stop me all at once stopped moving and fell to the ground.

Phew.

It was over as soon as I took down the main body.

It was a tricky opponent.

[Your level has increased.]

After all that effort, I only went up one level?

No. It’s common sense that it gets harder to level up as you evolve.

I, as a Crocodile King Lizard, understood.

“Gegek… Kangkang!”

My old cry kept coming out. This would diminish my intimidation.

First, let’s eat.

I took a big bite of the large Cordyceps.

Crunch.

Not bad.

A bit bitter, but it tasted similar to king oyster mushrooms.

If I grilled it well and ate it with meat, I’d have no complaints.

Drip drip.

Ugh, I’m drooling.

But isn’t there any reward?

Cordyceps should be considered a valuable elixir, right?

Ting.

That’s right.

[The level of 「Gourmet LV2」 has increased.]

Huh?

What, I thought I was getting something.

It’s just that eating delicious food increased the level.

Well, elixirs don’t come easily.

I should be satisfied with eating a bit of the core.

Since it tasted good, I’ll let it pass.

Munch.

After finishing my meal, I stood up to start exploring in earnest.

Two legs were definitely more comfortable than four.

This place was sealed.

Seeing talismans and straw dolls, I could tell there was something shamanistic.

Were they doing that because of the Cordyceps?

Reviving dead bodies with some unknown power?

Well, martial artists would do that.

They’d be flustered if they weren’t as brilliant as I am.

…But isn’t it too much?

That mushroom was big, but still smaller compared to a human.

The maximum seemed to be controlling a millipede.

Is there more?

Drip.

At that moment, I heard the sound of a drop of water.

Just one drop.

But it was so out of place that I immediately located its source.

It was at the center of this small cave.

I opened my eyes wide and examined it closely.

There was a stone structure resembling a small altar.

It was covered in Chinese characters I couldn’t read.

And there was a small bowl on top of it.

A bowl shaped like a gourd with a few drops of milk-like liquid inside.

A cave.

And a milk-like liquid.

A small amount.

Could it be….

[Azure Sky Immortal Dew (Black)]

It was Azure Sky Immortal Dew!

My goodness.

The legendary elixir, said to be on par with Myriad-Year Fire Carp and Golden Phoenix.

Even if an ordinary person consumed it, they would become a supreme master!

Moreover, unlike other elixirs, it was a heavenly gift that didn’t make you worry about your body exploding!

Was it because I lived virtuously that I got to see such an elixir?

But what was with the black?

It was slightly milky with a tinge of black.

Sniff.

Ugh, it didn’t smell great.

It had a bit of an oily smell.

Well, the status window said it was Azure Sky Immortal

Dew, so what’s the harm?

I should drink it quickly before someone steals it.

Hastily.

I quickly grabbed the gourd with the Azure Sky Immortal Dew.

An ordinary lizard would be sad, like a fox that couldn’t drink from the gourd.

But I wasn’t an ordinary lizard.

Let’s try it.

Shirick.

I tilted the gourd as much as possible and licked the bottom to get the Azure Sky Immortal Dew.

Slurp.

This taste?

“Keheek….”

It was just oil!

No, the status window wouldn’t lie.

I had the urge to spit it out immediately, but I had to endure.

Gulp.

I barely managed to swallow the liquid down my throat.

Phew….

Please.

Status window.

I’ve been through a lot.

I got chased out of the swamp, got petted by Baek Yeonyeong, and learned martial arts.

…Did I not suffer enough?

Maintaining the Crocodile King Lizard’s secret technique, squinting, I waited for the status window’s message.

Ting.

[You have consumed the supreme elixir.]

__________________________

【Azure Sky Immortal Dew (Black)】

A liquid formed from the long-condensed energy of nature. The corpses of spiritual creatures accumulated and formed a single drop of liquid. Its effect is inferior to regular Azure Sky Immortal Dew, but it’s still worthy of being called a supreme elixir.

Effect: Greatly enhances the performance of a random skill.

__________________________

Random?

Random?

Please.

Status window.

Help me just this once!