The Basilisk.
A legendary monster with skin as hard as stone, coated in deadly poison, and possessing the petrification ability of a Medusa.
It was an incredibly famous creature. An image formed in my mind of a high-value monster, the kind that would take at least two enemies down with it even in death.
That was the basilisk I knew.
And yet, I could evolve into a basilisk?
It wasn't that I thought it was a bad thing. On the contrary, it was great.
But I couldn't wrap my head around the reason for it.
A gecko evolving into a chameleon or some other lizard was nonsensical in its own right, but I could accept that to a certain degree.
This, however, was a different case entirely.
If I had any of the basilisk's signature traits, like a petrification skill or deadly poison, I might have thought it possible.
But the condition for this special evolution was none other than Sprint.
I couldn't fathom what connection running fast had with a basilisk.
But I wasn't stupid enough a lizard to throw away this opportunity just because I didn't understand the reason.
I'm no fool who turns down a gift.
Evolving into a broken species like the basilisk? Hell yeah, that's a jackpot.
I selected the option.
'Green Basilisk.'
I'm already becoming a basilisk. Does this mean my next evolution will be something like a dragon?
As I entertained that fantasy, my body began to transform.
Crack.
Crunch.
Every single one of my bones was shifting violently.
I could feel my bones growing in an instant, as if I were watching a time-lapse video.
My bones formed a new skeletal structure.
My frame grew slightly larger. My tail grew longer.
Naturally, the tissues covering the bones began to change as well.
Rrrrip.
The sensation was similar to shedding, but somehow different.
It wasn't just dead cells being torn away.
New tissues were forming to fit my new skeleton.
Each and every muscle was newly formed.
The skin and scales that covered them were so intricate it was embarrassing to even compare them to those of a gecko.
The pure white room began to tremble.
Crack.
A small crack appeared in the room.
I realized what this room was.
It was the egg I had seen when I first arrived in this world.
With my long claws, I widened the crack in the eggshell.
CRACK!
Without help from anyone, I shattered my world.
[Congratulations! [Green Gecko] has evolved into [Green Basilisk]!]
I am no longer a gecko.
I am a creature of myth, the Green Basilisk.
"Gek-ge-gek!"
…But why does my cry sound exactly the same as before?
No. It probably just hasn't synced up yet.
I could see the name 'Green Basilisk,' not 'Green Gecko.'
And also a spider, staring holes through me.
"Kieek!"
Yeah, nice to see you, too.
But could you maybe move your face back a bit?
It's a little scary.
"Gek-gek."
I turned my head away.
Even though I looked different, the spider seemed to remember I was the same gecko. Had it been waiting for me to hatch? How thoughtful.
"Kioong…."
It fidgeted with its two front legs.
What's wrong?
You're acting strange.
It nudged me with its third leg.
I looked to see what was going on, and saw a bundle of silk lying in front of me.
Looking closer, I saw it was a winged insect, still breathing.
"Kiong!"
Was it telling me to eat it?
It pushed the silk bundle toward me with one of its long legs.
"Gek-ge-gek."
It would be rude to refuse a gift.
Besides, I was hungry.
Perhaps because it was freshly caught, it wasn't dry at all; juices burst in my mouth.
Blech.
I'd eaten my fair share of bugs, but I still hadn't gotten used to the taste.
I only ate them because I was hungry.
But the more I ate, the hungrier I felt.
In fact, the food entering my stomach seemed to awaken a hunger I hadn't even realized was there.
"Kioong!"
The spider offered me more bugs it had prepared.
I stuffed the bugs it gave me into my mouth.
Was it a side effect of the evolution? I was ravenous.
They tasted incomparably bitter compared to the first one, but I forced them down.
My bones had grown and my skin had been reconstructed, so it made sense that the process had consumed a tremendous amount of nutrients.
So much so that I felt I would have starved to death if I hadn't eaten right away.
…The thought sent a chill down my spine. If the spider hadn't waited for me, I might have been completely helpless and died.
Next time I evolve, I'll have to make sure to stockpile some food.
"Kiek!"
The spider kept handing me bugs.
So it does remember that I saved its life.
I opened my mouth wide and swallowed everything it offered.
I felt a hot energy rising from deep within me.
Did it give me a spicy bug or something?
My stomach was finally starting to feel full.
Now came the moment I'd been waiting for.
It was time to check my current status.
[Green Basilisk LV1]
HP: 50/50
MP: 20/20
My level had been reset, but my HP and MP had actually increased.
They didn't call it an evolution for nothing.
It seems I can evolve once I reach level 10.
Although, judging by the spider's level, it didn't seem like reaching level 10 was the only requirement for evolution.
But it was time to put aside such digressions.
With a pounding heart, I used Detailed View.
I anticipated the abilities of the ultimate lizard, something incomparable to a mere gecko.
__________________________
[Green Basilisk]
Its body length is about 70cm, but its tail makes up a large portion of that length. It is quite light, weighing around 300g.
Thanks to the wide scales on its feet, it can run on the surface of water. It uses its long tail to maintain balance and move quickly.
Due to its ability to run on water, it is also called the Jesus Christ lizard.
__________________________
Wait a minute.
It's a basilisk.
Where's the petrification ray?
Shouldn't there at least be a description of its poison?
No.
This isn't a basilisk!
[The effect of Cold Blood activates.]
Phew.
Calm down.
My Wild Eye skill isn't exactly reliable.
Didn't it fail to mention the ants' poison and paralyzing stingers?
There's a chance something was omitted this time, too.
Please.
__________________________
[Skills]
「Tail Sever LV9」「Wall Climbing LV4」「Cold Blood LV2」「Predation LV1」「Wild Eye LV1」「Tail Sever LV1」「Sprint LV7」「Stealth LV2」「Paralysis Resistance LV2」「Acid Resistance LV4」「Webbed Walk LV1」
__________________________
Petrification… is missing?
No. But there is a new skill.
It must be another name for petrification.
「Webbed Walk LV1」
Allows you to run on water.
Of course not.
….
What am I supposed to do with this?
What good is running on water?
If this was all I was going to get, I should've just become an armadillo girdled lizard.
What's the difference between this and a gecko?
I whipped my tail in irritation.
Swish!
My once-plump tail was now incredibly thin, and it made a sound like a cracking whip.
Not only was it thinner, but it was also much, much longer.
If my torso was over 20cm, my tail was at least twice that length.
I quite liked that.
My tail was my main weapon, after all.
I'd started out with Tail Sever, and I fought enemies by swinging my tail instead of using my short limbs.
Having the range of my main weapon increase severalfold was great news.
With this, who needs petrification?
…No, of course I was envious.
A bitter taste filled my mouth.
If it had been called something like 'Long-Tailed Lizard,' I wouldn't have been so disappointed.
Why, of all things, did it have to be a Basilisk?
I'd come up with dozens of plans the moment I saw the name, and now they were all ruined.
But I couldn't stay in despair forever.
The evolution was complete, and while it fell short of my expectations, it was true that I was stronger than before.
I needed to plan my next move.
First of all, my life in this tree was over. I was too big now.
Even though my tail accounted for most of my new size, that very fact made living in the tree inconvenient.
If I let my tail hang out, it would surely attract the attention of the dinosaurs roaming below.
Besides, I'd even gained the 'Webbed Walk' skill.
This species must live near water, so it seemed right to move to a waterside area.
"Gek-gek."
Nephila. I'm leaving this place.
"Kioong…."
Did it understand me?
It grabbed my tail with its long legs.
But no means no.
"Kioooong…."
It was a brief encounter, but I enjoyed it.
"Gek-gek."
Still, seeing its sincerity... maybe I should stay a little longer?
It wasn't like I could just climb down and immediately find a place by the water.
I'd get bigger as I leveled up, but for now, I could probably manage to stay here.
And since I'd become friends with this spider, I wanted to stay with it a bit longer.
We were close enough to be called friends now, after all.
"Kioong…."
But... why are you drooling?
"Kieeeng…."
And what's with that look in your eyes?
The spider's drool dripped onto my tail.
It was gently tugging on my tail.
This crazy bastard!
I severed my tail in an instant.
"Hioooong!"
As if frustrated at losing its prey, it drummed its long legs against the branch.
Ugh. It was my mistake to trust that spider.
I take back what I thought about staying here longer.
As I fled, I glanced back to see what it was doing.
"Kieeek!"
It was hugging the tail I'd severed tightly.
A cold sweat broke out on my skin.
If I hadn't realized what was happening, that would have been me in its grasp instead of my tail.
I almost ended up as a cocoon.
[Achievement Unlocked.]
That startled me. An achievement?
What is it this time?
Is it an achievement for being duped by the name 'Basilisk'?
[An Achievement That Would Surprise an Iguanodon!]
Wasn't it a raptor last time?
Does that mean this one is better?
My hopes rose a little.
This will surely heal my tender heart, betrayed by the spider I had trusted.
[Spiders do not have hearts.]
Right. They don't have hearts.
[You have received the love of such a spider.]
Right. I received its love.
…Huh? I received what?
[You have acquired the title, 「Beloved by the Spider」.]
What the hell is this?