Chapter 49: Not Grateful At All (2)

As I struggled, the spider webs entangled me even more.

The vibration reached the one hiding in the cave.

Will it shoot a poison sting?

At me, struggling while tied up.

The Crimson Tarantula was ferocious.

I used a more intense method.

Tududududu-

It jumped out of the cave with a terrifying momentum.

A tarantula as big as a bull.

Bright red venomous fangs.

The deadly poison those fangs contain is not much inferior even to my neurotoxin.

It leaped high.

And I had been waiting for this moment.

「Using Basic Elemental Magic: Fire lv4.」

I formed flames around my body.

The spider web that was as tough as wire instantly burned.

The flames spread on their own, starting to burn other nearby spider webs.

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The Crimson Tarantula pounced on where I had been just a moment ago.

Dust flew and sparks scattered.

I didn't intend to kill it with just this level of flames.

I jumped up and clung to its body.

I quickly wrapped myself around its thin waist.

"Kweek, kwek!"

Despite its massive body, the Crimson Tarantula has amazing agility.

In other words, it can rampage around in all directions while I'm hanging on.

Tang! Kwang!

It crashes into the iron bars and rocks.

It's trying to shake me off.

And given enough time, that attempt would certainly succeed.

I can't kill this thing by strangling it with my constriction.

It's even hard to bite.

The fur and hard carapace, and the dizziness from being shaken around make it difficult.

I put as much strength into my body as possible.

Anyway, I was planning to use the newly acquired skill.

「Using Poison Scales lv2.」

It's a simple skill that secretes poison from the scales.

I wouldn't have been able to use it properly before. After all, snake scales, no matter how you look at it, can't be used as a weapon.

I would have just become a snake that's unpleasant to touch.

But now that I've evolved into a Crystal Double Horn Python.

Now that I have crystal-like shining sharp scales, and can even make them stand on end.

Kakakakak!

The raised scales finally penetrated its body.

It means the neurotoxin secreted from the poison gland was injected into the Crimson Tarantula's body.

"Kwek."

It gradually slowed down and finally its life was cut off.

Its long legs curl up sharply.

「You have killed Crimson Tarantula lv32.」

「Your level has increased.」

Phew.

It's been a while since I leveled up.

I couldn't level up as explosively as I thought I would here.

It seems my level has increased quite a bit.

Spot looked at me and raised its head to howl.

"Awooooo!"

Does it think it's a wolf? You weren't even in the canine family.

But it's not bad if I think of it as a fanfare celebrating victory.

I stroked its head with my tail.

Spot stuck out its tongue, panting, and wagged its tail.

Let's check the status window.

──────────────

[Crystal Double Horn Python lv10]

[Title] Ouroboros, Heart-eating Snake

[Traits]

[Indomitable], [Perseverance], [Horn], [Pattern], [Scales]

──────────────

My level has reached 10.

If I hadn't caught Deshnan, I probably wouldn't have been able to level up this easily.

I wonder what level I need to reach for the next evolution.

Last time it was 20, so this time it might be up to 30.

If so, it's definitely difficult to gain experience in the indoor zoo.

I might have to go outside and face stronger monsters.

──────────────

[Skills]

[Billy's Horn lv4]: Poison Scales lv2, [Leaping Horn lv2]

[Heavenly Thunder Spirit lv0], [Basic Elemental Magic: Fire lv4], [Basic Elemental Magic: Earth lv5], [Basic Elemental Magic: Water lv2], [Basic Elemental Magic: Wind lv2], [Magic: Invisible Hand lv2], [Deadly Poison: Neurotoxin lv5], [Devouring lv7], [Leap of Heart-eating lv1], [Stealth lv7]

[Poison Resistance lv7], [Bleeding Resistance lv3], [Pain Resistance lv8], [Heat Resistance lv10], [Cold Resistance lv1], [Petrification Resistance lv1], [Electric Resistance lv4] [Survival Instinct lv6], [Magic Detection lv3], [Acceleration lv5], [Swimming lv1], [Breath Holding lv5], [Slashing lv2], [Black Scales lv1], [Taming lv5], [Clumsy Swordsmanship lv1]

[Status]

[Smug]

──────────────

The skill window has become quite complex.

It's time to organize it.

The interesting part was the achievement section.

──────────────

[Guard Captain Assassination], [Friend of Centipedes], [Friend of Goblins], [Monster Leader]

──────────────

I achieved the Monster Leader achievement.

──────────────

[Monster Leader]

You have tamed more than five monsters.

Monsters will be more obedient to you.

──────────────

Hahaha.

It's been proven that the things I did in the indoor zoo weren't in vain.

"You said before that you wanted to become a Samuryu. I don't know what that is, though."

Pelerian said in a low voice.

'It's Samuryeong, actually.'

"So what is a Samuryeong?"

There's no need to explain in detail about a wuxia novel I read in middle school.

An absolute invincible being that neither heroes, armies, nor even monsters can do anything about.

Or an intangible viper that even a kingdom can't touch with all its might.

In short, it meant I don't want to be chased or threatened by anyone.

"You know that's the level all villains in the world aspire to, right? It's almost impossible to achieve."

Pelerian says he also dreamed of such a level.

He says he only wished for and researched the evolution of his entire species, but the world wouldn't leave him alone.

"There are two ways to reach that level."

'What are they?'

"One is to obtain overwhelming power. Become the strongest magician who can even flip the sky. Or become a god of the sword who can split the sea with a blade."

Or become a giant snake that can wrap around mountains and cause tsunamis.

"Or form the largest group. Whether it becomes a kingdom or an empire."

'So, old man, you tried the first method, I guess.'

And probably failed.

Pelerian nodded.

"Actually, I think now that the answer might have been to pursue both."

Forming a group.

My taming of the monsters in the indoor zoo was actually half joking.

But the Monster Leader achievement was clearly recorded in my status window.

'Well, let's go in further for now.'

Having caught the Crimson Tarantula, I had almost conquered the indoor zoo.

Now only the innermost iron bars remained.

I left Spot behind and approached that inner area.

The lights were off here.

You there, come out!

"Sa-ak!"

I shouted.

There was certainly one monster hiding in there.

But it wouldn't show itself easily.

Will it be hostile to me, or will it submit?

Either way suits me.

If you don't come out, I'll come in myself.

Just as I was about to open the iron bars.

Step.

Something walked out of the darkness.

It's quite big.

About the same size as the Crimson Tarantula, perhaps?

Step, step.

But it looks much heavier.

I raised my scales and prepared for battle.

Somehow, it feels like a strong monster.

And strong monsters don't submit easily.

What appeared was a gorilla.

And a magnificent gorilla at that, with carapaces sprouting on both arms.

Just as I was about to offer feed and force it to make a choice.

"Sna... Snake."

Ugh, I was so surprised I spilled all the feed.

A shocking fact, unlike other monsters, it spoke.

Its large eyes were shining with tears.

"Send... me... home."

Ah, this gorilla.

I think it was written in Deshnan's breeding journal.

This is your home, gorilla.

"Then, my family... will. Repay."

What kind of repayment will the gorilla give?

Is it going to give me bananas?

"You have hands... If you have hands, you're kin."

How did it know about my invisible hands?

The gorilla was a disastrous philanthropist.

"I'll give, love. Accept... as our family."

A shocking adoption proposal.

Not needed.