[Green Basilisk LV1]
HP: 50/50
MP: 20/20
[Title]
「Beloved by the Spider」
You will not be attacked first by animals of the order Araneae.
When facing insects, you receive a bonus to strength and speed.
The effects were quite good.
Not being attacked first by spiders seemed like something I could put to good use. I might even be able to team up with other spiders, just like this time.
On top of that, it gave me an extra bonus when fighting insects.
That also seemed incredibly useful.
I didn't know the exact numbers, but this place was crawling with insects. And insects were a lizard's main source of food.
It was a handy effect to have.
A title with no downsides.
…So why did she give it to me?
I glanced at the acacia tree, now far in the distance.
My mind was in turmoil.
I felt something hot rising from within me.
Strange.
Suppressing the feeling, I looked up at the sky.
The day was gradually dawning.
I had lost track of time fighting the ants and then evolving.
I watched the sunrise for a moment.
But before I could even admire the world being painted in red, the sun was blocked.
I expressed my displeasure with an annoyed hiss.
"Gek-gek-gek!"
I don't know who you are, but get out of the way!
[Oviraptor LV10]
"Krrrk?"
My eyes met with an Oviraptor's.
It already looked like a chicken, so did it have to act like one, too?
Who wakes up this early in the morning?
The Oviraptor that met my gaze tilted its head.
Its movement startled me for a second, but I quickly reminded myself that I was no longer the pathetic little lizard I used to be.
I was a Green Basilisk.
In other words, I wasn't some weak reptile like a gecko.
I stood up on my two hind legs.
I spread my arms wide and puffed up my body.
It won't dare to attack me so easily.
"Krrk!"
That's right.
Let's just go our separate ways.
Predators don't usually fight each other.
Even if you win, getting injured could be fatal for your survival.
"Krrrk!"
The Oviraptor clacked its beak-like snout.
Wait a minute.
No matter how I look at it, those eyes are sizing me up as prey.
Did I overestimate myself? As if my slightly larger body was no issue at all, the creature charged toward me.
Why are you embarrassing this poor lizard?
If you were going to do this, you should have just done it from the start.
'Sprint!'
My body felt lighter as I fled in the opposite direction.
Patter-patter-patter-patter!
…Wait, am I allowed to be this fast?
It was an unbelievable speed.
And I wasn't running on all fours, but on two feet.
As I ran, wildly swinging my arms, I reached a speed incomparable to before.
So this is why they call this lizard the one that walks on water.
I fled frantically at a speed I couldn't control.
And when I say I couldn't control it, I mean it literally.
I was moving so fast it was nearly impossible to change direction.
But that was fine for now. All I had to do was lose the Oviraptor.
"Gek-gek-gek!"
*
The Oviraptor couldn't catch me.
It was about to give up and turn back, but every time it did, I would slow down and taunt it with a "gek-gek."
The creature's eyes went bloodshot as it drooled, trying desperately to chase me.
But who am I?
The one and only Basilisk, the Jesus lizard.
The beast could only stand there dumbfounded, watching me run gracefully across the water's surface.
If only my turning was better, I would have been having Oviraptor meat for breakfast. What a shame.
"Gek-gek!"
I surveyed my new surroundings.
It was a large swamp.
Basilisks are lizards that run on water.
I had discovered that I could run even faster on water than on land.
If that was the case, living here would be advantageous for my survival.
…It was definitely not because I wanted to catch and eat things like fish or shrimp.
I scanned the swamp, hiding behind a suitable leaf since I wasn't alone.
I saw large dragonflies flying around and a small dinosaur chasing after them.
I quickly scanned them.
The dragonflies looked like they could be a staple food source, and the small, winged dinosaur called a Microraptor seemed like a good match for me in this lizard body.
That is, if it was alone.
They were moving in a pack, so if I recklessly attacked, I'd end up as a lizard kebab.
But were they the only ones here?
At this rate, with just a little more growth, I could take over this entire swamp…
Splash!
Fwip-fwip-fwip!
At the sudden appearance of a giant reptile, the Microraptor pack scattered in terror.
One of them got its wing caught in the massive jaws of a crocodile.
Crack.
Crunch!
As soon as the crocodile bit down on the wing, it initiated a death roll.
[Piranha Caiman LV7]
__________________________
[Piranha Caiman]
Can grow up to 3m in length, with males weighing up to 75kg.
As its name suggests, it preys mainly on piranhas and has a hostile relationship with jaguars.
It is a clever hunter that prefers to ambush its prey from the water.
__________________________
Before the dust even settled, the creature dragged its prey into a murky puddle.
I finally understood the source of the foul stench—it was a mix of rotting carcasses and the beast's own waste.
I should avoid even looking in that direction. The water was filthy, and there didn't seem to be anything for me to eat.
Besides, there was nothing I could do against that monster.
I scurried away and found an area with a cluster of small pools.
Being relatively small, the water was clean, and I couldn't see any predators that might eat me. Plus, there were many naturally concealed spots, making it a perfect place for a hideout.
I cautiously crawled toward one of the pools.
It was a cozy spot.
The lack of prey nearby was a downside, but that also meant a lack of predators.
It was the best place to sleep or rest.
"Gek-gek."
I dipped my feet in the water.
It was incredibly comfortable. It felt like my feet were moving on their own.
Is this what a waterbed feels like?
Gurgle.
Hsss.
There was that feeling again, something rising from within me.
It had been happening ever since I evolved.
I could feel a hot energy in my belly.
Could the food the spider gave me have been poisoned?
I stuck out my tongue and drank the water.
Lapping it up like a cat or dog was too slow. I plunged my snout into the pool and gulped it down.
But the more water I swallowed, the thirstier I became.
It was a similar situation to when I first ate after evolving.
As I kept filling my stomach with water, the thirst gradually subsided.
I patted my satisfied belly.
I had rested, eaten plenty, and now quenched my thirst.
My long tail swayed naturally, perhaps because I was in a good mood.
"Gek-gek."
Had I ever rested this comfortably since coming here?
Sssssss.
I must be really relaxed if steam is coming off my body.
…Wait, why is steam coming off my body?
I quickly submerged myself in the pool.
The hot energy inside my belly grew stronger and stronger.
[Spiritual Energy is circulating through your body.]
This message.
I had seen it before I evolved.
[The energy of a Mid-Low Grade Inner Core now resides in your body.]
Wait a minute.
A Mid-Low Grade Inner Core?
That's what the spider had.
I finally understood why I was able to level up right before I died.
The spider had fed me its Inner Core.
Seeing as it was still alive and well, giving it away probably wasn't fatal, but still, an Inner Core must have been a precious item.
I suddenly felt a pang of guilt.
Hey, spider. If you evolve into an S-rank blonde beauty, I'll reconsider.
[The energy of a Low-Grade Inner Core is circulating through your body.]
A Low-Grade Inner Core?
What's this now?
Come to think of it, after I woke up, the spider kept handing me things.
A few of them had a bitter taste… could those have been Inner Cores?
And the constant heat I've been feeling was because the spider fed me Inner Cores?
Seriously, spider.
I mean, thanks, but…
Are you sure it's okay for me to eat those?
Am I not going to explode?
[Spiritual Energy now fills your body.]
A white aura appeared. If someone could extract the color white from nature and force it into a body, would it look like this? A mind-numbingly bright light flowed into me.
[The Spiritual Energy is accelerating your growth!]
The hot energy gathered in one spot.
If I were human, it would be slightly below where my navel would be.
In other words, the place called the Dantian.
The energies slowly began to merge.
Tiring!
[「Sprint LV7」 is reacting to 「Water-walking LV1」.]
At the same time, a status window popped up.
[「Tail Sever LV9」 is reacting with 「Water-walking LV1」!]
Sssssss.
The surface of the pool I was in began to boil.
[「Wall Climbing LV4」 is reacting to 「Water-walking LV1」!]
My existing skills were reacting to the new one.
I could guess what was happening. They were probably giving a bonus to the Water-walking skill.
Maybe it'll add about three levels.
[「Water-walking LV1」 evolves into 「Great Water-walking LV1」!]
Yeah.
I didn't expect much.
That's just my luck.
Great Water-walking? Do my feet get bigger or something? That's so lazy.
If that's all it is, take it back!
The message on the status window suddenly blurred.
[「Water-walking LV1」 is ■□■■□□ into ■■bi□■!]
I'm sorry, I'm sorry!
I was just joking! Please give it back!
Hey, you can't just give something and take it away!
[「%! Se■□ LV1」 is reacting to 「Water-walking LV1」!]
I couldn't believe my eyes.
That was a skill that wasn't in my skill list.
No, it was a skill I couldn't even read. The letters were obscured as if there was an error.
[「Water-walking LV1」 has surpassed its limits.]
Surpassed its limits?
[「Water-walking LV1」 evolves into 「Little Dragon's Ascending Steps」!]
Something was different.
The name was unusual, and it didn't have a level attached to it.
Barely calming my pounding heart, I read the skill description.
「Little Dragon's Ascending Steps」
A footwork technique like the steps of a small dragon. You can scale walls as if flying and walk freely upon water. Your base speed is enhanced, and it becomes easier to learn other martial arts.
I barely managed to hold back a gek-gek-ing scream.
Footwork?
And there are other martial arts?
One day after being reincarnated as a lizard.
I had completely mistaken the genre.