I Became an Evolving Lizard in a Martial Arts Novel – Chapter 107

Chapter 107 Alliance

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【Argentavis LV70】

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【Argentavis】

Argentavis is a giant bird of prey, with a body length of about 3.5 meters and a wingspan exceeding 6.5 meters. It primarily hunts small animals on the ground, but its massive size and sharp talons make it capable of preying on larger animals as well. A true apex predator, earning it the title of the King of the Skies.

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Its size was unbelievable for a bird.

The status window showed the typical size for that species.

Creatures above a certain level tend to be larger than what is shown on the status window.

It was massive, comparable even to the Imoogi Bird.

However, it seemed a notch below the Snake Queen, as I was able to check its level.

That level was a staggering 70.

The highest I had ever seen.

Of course, a high level doesn’t necessarily mean strength. After all, a Level 1 Gomodo is far stronger than a Level 10 Gecko.

But Argentavis was at the top tier among regular beasts.

And given that it was a former King of Birds, it would also be considered a divine beast.

“Kieeeek!”

Argentavis swiftly flew over and halted right in front of the Snake Queen.

Woom.

Woom.

Hovering in place, Argentavis glared at the Snake Queen.

The Snake Queen met its gaze without flinching.

It was truly a tense moment.

Flash!

Light burst from Argentavis’s body, and mist swirled around the Snake Queen almost simultaneously.

It had begun.

Their confrontation.

Their massive bodies quickly shrank.

A middle-aged man with brown hair, dressed in splendid clothes, appeared.

The wings in place of arms confirmed he was the former King of Birds we had just seen.

“You didn’t come here to kill me, did you?”

If the Snake Queen resembled a mythical Lamia, then Argentavis looked like a Harpy.

No, aren’t Harpies supposed to be female?

I swallowed that complaint.

At some point, the Snake Queen had also transformed into her human form.

“Your hospitality is rather slow.”

She stared at Argentavis with her usual expressionless face.

It was a relief that she was on my side; otherwise, if she faced me like that, I wouldn’t have been able to do anything but make pitiful sounds.

Argentavis sat on a protruding rock.

“Hoo.”

Crossing his legs, Argentavis let out a sigh.

He seemed to want to say something but was holding back.

“You barged in just now, and you’re talking about hospitality?”

“Who are you trying to fool? You knew I’d received the message.”

“The Snake Queen is heading somewhere. Who would prepare hospitality after hearing that?”

Despite their words, it didn’t seem like they were on bad terms.

They seemed capable of some level of conversation.

…Actually, maybe the only reason they could talk was because the Snake Queen had declared her intent with a destructive beam.

Argentavis was the first to back down.

“How’s Soaring Dragon doing?”

There was a connection of sorts.

That old lizard was more impressive than I thought.

“Why would you ask me that?”

The Snake Queen glanced at me briefly as she spoke.

“…He’s still alive. His lifespan is rather long.”

“I see. That’s a relief.”

An awkward tension hung in the air.

It didn’t seem like a situation for me to intervene.

I should just go play with Shikshik over there.

“I heard a rumor—you found a mate.”

Why did the spotlight suddenly shift to me?

The Snake Queen gave a slight nod, then grabbed my tail and pulled me closer.

“Ge-eek….”

Let go of me, you brute.

I struggled, but I couldn’t overpower the Snake Queen’s firm grip.

I ended up resting my head on her lap, looking like a pathetic lizard.

“So it’s true that you’ve found a mate. No wonder your temperament seems milder.”

Milder, you say?

But that mountain range was split in half just a moment ago.

Maybe she meant “mild” as in a mild toxin.

“It’s foolish, but I couldn’t let him go.”

The Snake Queen gently scratched the area between my brows.

My eyes slowly closed.

But I couldn’t fall asleep.

Shikshik was busy biting my tail.

“Hiek!”

That hurts, Shikshik.

Argentavis watched my groaning form silently, then changed the subject.

“You didn’t come here just to show off your mate, did you?”

“That’s right.”

“Are you here as the Snake Queen, or as the daughter of Soaring Dragon?”

“I brought my mate and heir with me. Are you saying you don’t understand what that means?”

“…What business brings the Snake Queen to such a humble place?”

Soaring Dragon’s daughter.

It was just a guess, but it turned out that old Kompi really was the Snake Queen’s father.

Of course, not her biological father.

“I’m proposing an alliance.”

“An alliance?”

“Gaechar-goa-dal. That creature has crossed the line.”

Argentavis closed his eyes and slowly nodded.

Argentavis had been defeated by the Imoogi Bird.

He lost the title of the King of Birds and was forced to hide in this shelter instead of ruling over the vast jungle.

To him, Gaechar-goa-dal was a target for revenge.

“You plan to strike him. I’ve heard rumors. The tide has turned in your favor.”

“My mate has done quite a bit to help.”

“I’m all for attacking him. But…”

Argentavis rubbed his right shoulder.

“I’ve been old and weak for a long time. I won’t be much help.”

It seemed the injury he sustained in his defeat to the Imoogi Bird hadn’t healed.

But that was something we had considered when coming here.

The Snake Queen took something from between my scales with both hands.

It was a large horn, so she had to hold it with both hands.

I quickly escaped from the Snake Queen’s lap.

She frowned, then silently handed the item to Argentavis.

“This… This is…!”

Argentavis’s wings trembled.

The item the Snake Queen handed him was the horn of the Unicorn.

Whatever injury he had, that horn would surely heal it.

“How did you…?”

“My mate worked hard for it.”

The Snake Queen and Argentavis began discussing the alliance in earnest.

They talked about the forces they could deploy, Gaechar-goa-dal’s strength, and when the healing from the Unicorn’s horn would be completed.

Honestly, there was a lot I didn’t understand.

It was an adult conversation, so a good lizard should stay out of it.

I played hand games with Shikshik, who was still nibbling on me, waiting for their conversation to end.

“Tweet!”

A small bird landed on my head.

A white, round bird.

【Long-tailed Tit LV25】

A cute bird also known as a long-tailed tit.

“Gek!”

How cute.

It’s on par with Shikshik.

“Hiek!”

Shikshik made a whimpering sound, as if feeling slighted.

I’m not saying you’re ugly, I mean you’re both cute.

But why did it perch on my head the first time it saw me?

Is this what they call a selection?

My mouth curled up into a smile.

“Tweet!”

Aww.

I couldn’t see it well since it was on my head, but from the little bit of its feet I could see, it looked adorable.

“Saaaak!”

Shikshik pounded the ground with her tail, seeming upset.

Was she jealous?

The expression on her face looked like something straight out of a meme.

Having two cute creatures doubled the cuteness.

Purr.

I couldn’t help it.

“Cheep!”

“Hiek!”

I grabbed both Shikshik and the little bird and cuddled them against my chest.

There wasn’t a big reason; I just wanted to gather the cute ones in one place.

“Saaa!”

Shikshik opened her mouth wide as if she’d been waiting for this.

You can’t try to eat someone you just met.

“Cheep!”

Surprisingly, the long-tailed tit also opened its mouth wide.

Wait, aren’t you a bird?

Shikshik may look silly, but she’s still a snake.

Maybe you’re too young to know better.

I alternated between stroking them with my hands.

Don’t fight, be friends.

“It’ll take more time than expected.”

“Yes. For now, it’s difficult. But once I recover, I promise not to hold back on any support.”

“Hm… Well, what’s important is having forces that can fight in the air.”

The Snake Queen and Argentavis were having an in-depth conversation.

It seemed like their discussion was coming to an end.

“…What’s your mate doing over there?”

“Gecko.”

“Gecko?”

“Are you saying you don’t know Gecko?”

What is that?

Argentavis looked at the Snake Queen with an expression that clearly said he didn’t understand.

That was the normal reaction.

“…Gripping high ground. Profound.”

Wait, did he just understand that?

“Gek gek.”

The little bird slipped out of my hand and started examining my teeth.

She had good eyes.

We probably looked like a crocodile and a plover.

Sorry, but there’s no debris left in my teeth after the Snake Queen cleaned them.

Despite that, the little bird kept staring at my teeth.

“Hiek!”

Shikshik, feeling a strange sense of competition, began prowling around my teeth as well.

“I’ve mostly finished our talk. Since you’ve brought your mate and heir, I

should also show proper manners.”

“That’s quick of you.”

“I couldn’t prepare in advance. How could I know if you’d try to kill me and take my core?”

“Don’t say things you don’t mean.”

The King of Birds pulled out a flask from between his feathers.

“This is some nameless liquor. Since we’ve formed an alliance, I’d like to share a drink.”

Alcohol!

It seemed that all divine beasts kept a bottle or two on hand.

Well, if they could take human form, they could probably brew it themselves.

“A drink for your mate and a drink for your heir as well.”

The long-tailed tit and Shikshik were squabbling.

It seemed they were having a debate about my teeth.

Now, they were both trying to enter my mouth.

Watching them struggle to open my mouth was almost pitiful, so I just opened it for them.

I just hoped they wouldn’t bite my uvula.

“And I should introduce my daughter as well.”

“Daughter? You have an heir?”

“Yes.”

Hearing that, I really felt like I was entering high society.

If Argentavis had a daughter, she could grow into the Queen of Birds.

The heirs of the Snake Queen and Argentavis.

And a lizard who appeared like a comet.

It felt like a gathering of future stars, like a Yongbongjihu.

“I’ve raised her with utmost care so that no one else could touch her.”

I’m excited.

Honestly, I was a bit disappointed when I saw Argentavis’s human form.

He looked cool, but he’s still a Harpy.

Harpies should be female—that’s an unchanging truth.

If Argentavis had a daughter, I might finally see a female Harpy.

…Not that it’s my taste, just a way to satisfy my intellectual curiosity.

“White feathers, a chubby body. Just watching her naturally brings a smile to my face.”

White feathers, huh.

I wonder what she looks like.

“She chirps every morning. Lately, it’s become something I live for.”

Wow, I’d love to hear that at least once.

“Tweet.”

Huh?

White feathers.

Chubby body.

Chirping sounds.

…Could it be you?

“Hm. Strange. She should have been following me.”

So, the precious daughter is inside my mouth?

I must not get caught.

If I’m found out, it’s all over for me, mate or not.

Especially since Shikshik is also in my mouth.

“Hmph. How careless of you with your heir.”

“Well, I don’t think anyone in this domain would dare touch my daughter.”

“If you’ve brought out the liquor, pour it. Look at my mate. He’s drooling already.”

No.

That’s not why I’m drooling.

“Ho. Drooling so much… And white feathers…”

Argentavis stopped talking.

“…White feathers?”

“Tweet!”

“Hiek!”

Even if a Tyrannosaurus bites you, if you keep your wits about you, you can survive.

Let’s stay positive.

“Geweeek….”

Three months was a long life anyway!

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Yongbongjihu: A gathering of talented young men (or future stars) from noble families in ancient Korea.

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Potential and the Broken Mirror

In the Snake Queen’s temple, there was a mirror of possibilities.

Though it had shattered into pieces, the Snake Queen didn’t dispose of it.

This was because, despite being weak, it still retained some of its power.

However, it no longer functioned as it originally did.

A broken mirror naturally can’t serve its original purpose.

But the mirror gained a new function that even the Snake Queen wasn’t aware of.

Instead of showing the potential of the reflected target, it could now glimpse the potential of someone else in the black lizard’s line of sight, appearing briefly in the mirror.