Ch.2222. Wolf (2)

Basilisk. This creature, often depicted as a reptile in medieval fantasy media, was a giant magical beast in the form of a massive lizard in this fantasy world I had reincarnated into.

To be precise, it would be more accurate to describe it as a mid-tier magical beast that looked like a cross between a lizard and an alligator.

Its distinctive physical structure includes sharp spines growing sparsely along its back and eight thick legs. While the average body length is roughly 6-7 meters, I had transformed into a specimen exceeding 8 meters.

And this basilisk with such an appearance is… as I mentioned earlier, one of the most powerful magical beasts among the creatures I can transform into using wild magic.

It possesses the tremendous strength and bite force befitting a large mid-tier monster, and despite its massive body, it’s quite fast thanks to its eight legs. The green scales covering its skin are as sturdy as steel, and its hide is exceptionally tough.

But if I had to pick the basilisk’s most powerful weapon…. it would be its deadly venom and magical eyes.

First, the venom. The basilisk has a venom gland that stores lethal neurotoxin below its esophagus. This deadly poison, a single drop of which could instantly kill ten Indian elephants, can be used in various ways.

Like venomous snakes, it can be injected through teeth or secreted from the spines on its back.

It can even spew a poison-attribute breath attack, utilizing the fact that this toxin is magically produced.

……..And what makes this poison truly dangerous is its magical nature, which means it can affect even those immune to conventional poisons.

Of course, naturally, the basilisk itself has complete immunity to its own poison.

Meanwhile, the basilisk’s second weapon, its magical eyes, is also a terrifying ability.

Magical abilities that activate through eye contact are commonly grouped together as “magical eyes,” with notable examples being a vampire’s “charm” or the paralyzing gaze some magical beasts possess.

Among these, the basilisk possesses petrification eyes. This ability turns targets within its field of vision to stone if they fail to resist.

Of course, this petrification gaze is fundamentally a predator’s hunting method.

While only the surface actually turns to stone, with the interior remaining unchanged…… once fully petrified, it’s over.

This basilisk, the most powerful form I can currently assume.

Transformed into a giant alligator-lizard with four pairs of legs, I flashed my golden reptilian pupils and unleashed the power of my magical eyes.

—Zzzzzzzap!!!

As more than half of the magical power forming the basilisk’s shape was consumed, I felt a sudden drain of energy. Simultaneously, all living beings within my field of vision instantly turned into gray stone.

Bushes collapsed, unable to bear the weight of their petrified leaves. Several trees were destroyed, dropping their branches, and all sorts of small animals were caught in the energy wave imbued with petrification power.

And…. the Fen Wolves were no exception to this mass petrification.

—Crash!!!

I crushed, shattered, and pulverized the bodies of the Fen Wolves that had turned into what resembled statues.

The result of my attempt to confirm the kill of each petrified Fen Wolf that still retained life despite being turned to stone.

Being mere low-tier magical beasts, they couldn’t withstand it, and naturally, the stone that formed their bodies cracked and blood burst forth.

The remaining fifty or so Fen Wolves met such a futile death.

※ ※ ※

After dealing with the remnants of the Fen Wolf pack, I was prowling through the forest in my basilisk form, searching for the unseen mid-tier stragglers.

The basilisk is a magical beast that can reign as the apex predator in most ecosystems.

Perhaps because the wild animals in the area were too frightened to approach a basilisk, I was able to roam the forest without any interference……

But why weren’t they showing themselves?

The two mid-tier Fen Wolves hadn’t appeared despite a mid-tier predator openly invading their territory and slaughtering their subordinates. It was inevitable to question such behavior.

[Perhaps they’re scared, Master?]

[…….Corin’s suggestion has merit.]

My two animal friends suggested that they were too frightened to come out, and I also thought this theory had considerable credibility. However……. something in my instinct was telling me this wasn’t the case.

Considering that a druid’s intuition is fundamentally connected to the realm of celestial magic’s astrology, it seemed highly unlikely that their reluctance to appear stemmed from fear.

Anyway, after searching the forest for about 30 minutes, I discovered a certain terrain that wasn’t quite a mountain… more like a hill, with a rather complex structure formed by rocks…….

‘…This is it.’

The strong response of two life energies I sensed from inside the hill informed me that mid-tier Fen Wolves were hiding somewhere in this hill.

But something was strange.

Right next to the two life energy responses that undoubtedly belonged to Fen Wolves, I could clearly sense a faint and small but distinct response of a fragile life energy.

‘…Is it a cub?’

Judging by the circumstances, that life response appeared to be a cub, and if so, the reason for their unusual behavior up until now made some sense.

Based on its life force, this Fen Wolf cub seemed so young it might have just been weaned, so the lone wolf’s appearance earlier was probably to protect this cub.

‘……..’

However… this doesn’t evoke any feelings of compassion in me.

They led their pack to attack, massacre, and devour nearby human villages, and these Fen Wolves are the remnants of the Beast of Gévaudan incident.

To put it bluntly, man-eating beasts should be slaughtered as a rule.

‘Master, I found it!’

Anyway, as I was looking around the hill, I discovered what appeared to be the entrance to a natural cave, and I stuck my head into that entrance, which was large enough for an 8-meter basilisk to enter……

‘……..Human bones.’

The first thing that caught my eye was white human bones. And they were completely shattered bones, as if even the marrow had been sucked out.

And the next thing my senses detected was…… naturally, the two wolves that appeared to eliminate me, the predator who had invaded their den.

Two mid-tier Fen Wolves, one with dark fur and the other with nearly pure white fur, made quite an impression.

I activated my magical eyes as soon as they entered my field of vision, but… although they must have been affected by the petrification power, they shook off the stone gaze and charged at me.

Of course, while they succeeded in resisting the petrification itself, they couldn’t prevent their bodies from momentarily stiffening in the process….

[────■■■■■■■■!!!]

In that brief moment, I, wearing the shell of a basilisk, pushed magical power into the venom gland I had preheated and spewed out the basilisk’s venomous breath.

Green venom gushed from my mouth with a roaring sound. The Fen Wolves, momentarily stiffened while resisting petrification, missed their chance to dodge and were doused with the poison.

—Pssssshhhhh……..!!!

The basilisk’s neurotoxin was incredibly potent and concentrated. This poison, almost like acid in its intensity, broke down the skin tissue of the wolves it touched, but……

As expected of mid-tier magical beasts, they released magical power in that split second to dispel the venom and neutralize the poisoning. Then they charged at me with shields of visible magical power surrounding their bodies.

[[■■■■■■■■───!!!]]

The howls of the two wolves, filled with magical power, were like physical sound waves, and having blown away my venom in an instant, they lunged at me with their magically charged jaws.

And……..

—Crackle-zzzzzzzap!!!!!

Now that the two Fen Wolves’ defenses had relatively weakened as they went on the offensive, lightning shot by Corin, whom I had summoned earlier and who had been hiding, struck the wolves.

This was lightning shot by a living crystallization of mystery, almost half-elemental, called the thunder bird for its control over thunder and lightning. It was lightning focused more on paralyzing through electrocution than dealing damage.

As a result of this attack, possible because the thunder bird’s lightning was closer to magically charged electricity than actual electricity, the Fen Wolves were electrocuted and rendered helpless…..

‘……..It’s over.’

I didn’t miss that opportunity and swiftly moved my jaws to cleanly end the lives of these two mid-tier Fen Wolves.

As I would learn later, this was actually the moment when the last remnants of the Beast of Gévaudan incident, a major case that had claimed countless victims, were finally eliminated.