I Became an Evolving Lizard in a Martial Arts Novel-Chapter 234

“Grrraaaaahhh! Aaaaaaagh!”

A black shadow screamed in agony.

It shrieked while clutching its eyes, as if it had seen something it should never have.

Not to brag, but my Shimma (Inner Demon) does have a shockingly terrifying appearance.

But how exactly is that thing perceiving my Shimma?

Come to think of it, there are too many oddities to count.

Humans are usually the ones who feel a sense of wrongness when they see that form.

Other spiritual beings or animals should simply think it’s a peculiar creature wearing strange skin.

...Of course, even if it stripped off the skin, my Shimma’s grotesque appearance wouldn’t change.

Even without clothing, anyone would be terrified by those glowing teeth and bizarre, inhuman howls.

A massive dinosaur with crimson scales and a crest.

The adversary, Spinosaurus.

It’s enormous, far beyond the size of a normal Spinosaurus, so fear is only natural.

“Grrraaaaaah!”

The black shadow continued to scream.

Its shape gradually became blurry.

As I thought, that horrifying form wasn’t something left behind by the Cheonma (Heavenly Demon).

If Shimma’s words are to be trusted, it was likely a trick devised by the True Dragon.

— “How dare you enter my domain without permission. Your recklessness knows no bounds.”

Since when is this your domain?

“P-please... spare me....”

It can talk?

How am I supposed to capture it for information...?

Crunch!

Just as I considered extracting information, its body shattered into countless pieces, leaving my thoughts unfinished.

It felt like an illusion, but it must have been something that happened inside my mental world.

Even Kaichal Goa-Thal didn’t directly enter my mental space.

If it had, it would’ve faced Shimma.

The fact that not even a being like Kaichal Goa-Thal, who borrowed the power of Tae-Se, could accomplish this proves it was created by someone even stronger.

Naturally, it had to be the True Dragon.

I narrowly avoided disaster. Thanks to the True Dragon’s overwhelming power, that shadow was forced to encounter Shimma. Regardless, it would have perished before saying anything, so this was the best outcome.

...But why is Shimma helping me?

This thing doesn’t seem to have any reason to view me favorably.

Even if it’s unintentional, I ended up wearing strange outfits because of it.

Shouldn’t it be plotting to fully trap me and take over my body by now?

I despise both you and that creature equally, but I can’t tolerate anyone coveting the body I plan to use.

That explanation does make sense. Shimma is still aiming for my body, after all.

Judging from how that shadow opened its mouth wide and approached, it seemed to be planning something with my consciousness. Perhaps, like Shimma, it wanted to take over my body.

Shimma, holding its ticket in line, naturally wouldn’t sit idly by while someone tried to cut ahead.

...Looking at the results, didn’t it just help me?

Why has Shimma been so helpful lately?

It gave me advice when I glimpsed the future and is aiding me now.

Sure, it’s still scheming to claim my body, but I’ve received more help from it than I expected.

And, typically, does Shimma even have a distinct personality like this?

I suppose it makes sense for it to manifest in such a form.

After all, it’s the most horrifying image from my imagination.

In other words, it’s a being shaped by my own creativity.

But how does it know things beyond that?

What exactly is that shadow, and how is it related to the True Dragon?

— “Is that really the best thought you can muster?”

Shimma’s voice was filled with disdain.

— “Tch. You’re still so naive.”

Shimma clicked its tongue.

— “Now that the darkness has disappeared, its original form will be revealed.”

Its original form?

I turned my head immediately.

Where the shadow had disappeared, a human figure with a white shape stood, gazing at a rock.

— “It’s still far beyond your reach, but with the Dragon Eyes, you’ll manage somehow.”

Before Shimma could finish speaking, the Cheonma Sword swung.

Swish!

What is Yin-Yang? What is the Five Elements?

Thanks to Cho-Do, I’d gained a vague understanding, but that wasn’t important.

What mattered was that I could witness that sword technique.

I couldn’t even think of deciphering how it worked.

I simply stared in awe at Cheonma’s movements.

I didn’t know what was so incredible about the technique, but it left me astonished.

Shimma grumbled beside me, but its words didn’t reach my ears.

My only task was to imprint those movements into my memory.

*

"Hero? Are you alright?"

Cho-Do shook my body with a worried look.

"Hero! Snap out of it!"

Hey, how can you grab my tail with vines and shake me like that?

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"Grrgh..."

You're making me lose what little consciousness I have left.

"Ah, you’re safe. I was worried."

Don’t just say that with words.

"Grraahh..."

Let go, you little—

Thud.

According to Cho-Do, I had suddenly collapsed and lost consciousness.

She added that she had shaken me to wake me up, but I still hadn’t responded.

Seriously, in situations like this, isn’t it better to just stand guard nearby rather than trying to wake me up?

And with such extreme methods, no less.

I wanted to see more traces of the Cheonma, but I guess this was all I was allowed.

After regaining my composure, I told Cho-Do what I had seen.

When it came to my impressions of the Cheonma’s sword technique, all I could say was something like, "Wow, it was ridiculously cool."

Not that I could articulate it properly with the raspy sounds I was making.

Of course, I’m learning to speak, but the Cheonma’s sword marks are something beyond what words can describe, even if I could speak fluently.

"A shadow, you say?"

Cho-Do looked shocked.

"That can’t be... If I couldn’t detect it, then someone stronger than me must have been meddling. If that’s true, it must have been a move by my father."

Her green eyes drilled into the wall carvings.

"It seems the True Dragon was wary of the Cheonma’s sword marks being deciphered. ...Well, it’s only natural. After all, he’s the one who committed such deeds out of fear of the Cheonma."

Though she spoke respectfully, there was a clear hostility toward the True Dragon.

Judging by the fact that she’s helping me here, it’s not hard to infer that their relationship isn’t a good one.

"I almost caused a grave offense to the descendant of Gomodo."

She bowed her head in apology.

"Grrk!"

I waved my claw dismissively to show it was fine.

There was no way Cho-Do could have known about it.

Besides, if Cho-Do had intended to harm me, she could have done so while I was completely incapacitated just now.

Even before that, she could have eliminated me when we first met.

"Hero, your heart is as broad as the sky..."

She glanced subtly at my chest.

Was she biting her lip? Must’ve been my imagination.

"Still, since we broke through that, it feels good to have landed a blow against my father. But objectively speaking, the situation isn’t great. The True Dragon must have realized what happened."

If the trap was indeed laid by the True Dragon, some sort of signal would’ve been sent.

"He would’ve noticed that someone deciphered the Cheonma’s sword marks. ...However, he won’t act immediately."

If I were the True Dragon, I would’ve flown here straight away.

After all, being that terrified of the Cheonma, he wouldn’t take it lightly that someone had deciphered the traces left behind.

"It’s because of his relationships with other humans and spiritual beings. My father may be strong, but there haven’t been zero spiritual beings who could rival him over these long years. Of course, that was the case the last time I saw him, so I’m not sure how things stand now... Still, the fact that he’s left the Mountains of Ten Thousand Beasts untouched shows he’s wary of the other spiritual beings."

No matter how powerful the True Dragon is, he can’t do everything alone.

He only managed to contend with Gomodo and the Cheonma by leading thousands of spiritual beings.

"...And even beyond the spiritual beings, there are extraordinarily dangerous presences in these mountains."

Dangerous presences?

"They’re called Hyeol-Oksu."

Hyeol-Oksu!

Even the name sounds terrifying.

It feels a bit like a martial arts technique, but if you interpret the “-su” part, it seems like a beast’s name.

Whatever it is, the fact that “Hyeol” (blood) is part of the name means it’s definitely not ordinary.

"I only saw it from a distance, but I’ve never encountered anything like it. It’s not an ancient entity, but a modern human wielding such power. They subdued over ten giant beasts with a single strike and then sat atop them, eating a meal as if it were nothing... Even now, thinking about it sends shivers down my spine."

Cho-Do wrapped her arms around her shoulders.

Over ten giant beasts?

Each one is about three meters tall, right?

...You’re telling me they took down beasts over 30 meters tall in one blow?

And then calmly sat on them and unpacked a meal?

"What’s most terrifying is their appearance, which contrasts sharply with their power. Despite possessing such ferocious strength, their face was as beautiful as mine, if not more."

Huh?

Did she just call herself beautiful?

Were you always this kind of person?

Seems like a huge weight has been lifted off her chest, and now she’s lighter.

"Their long, flowing black hair and flawless, jade-like skin had not a single blemish. But their chest had unnecessary fat, which made their body look slightly sluggish."

Gulp.

Unnecessary fat?

Her tail was swaying lazily.

"I thought their expressionless face was a bit lacking, but upon further reflection, it seemed to perfect their presence."

Cho-Do continued her string of praise.

Wait. Just how beautiful could this person be for her to gush like this?

Hold on. She said they were comparable to her looks—could this all be a subtle way of complimenting herself?

"Their blue eyes, matching the floral patterns on their outfit, added an air of mystique..."

Huh?

This feels oddly familiar.

Someone who pokes at my body, sighs softly when I pretend to sleep, and even strokes my head lightly.

...

"Grrk!"

It’s my master!

What on earth has she been doing to earn the name Hyeol-Oksu?

Of course, Cho-Do might’ve given her the name, or other spiritual beings might’ve whispered it amongst themselves...

But thinking about it that way just makes it stranger.

If even spiritual beings are giving her nicknames, what exactly has she been up to?

"Her hands, especially, were exquisite. But those spiritual beings who dared bite her hands... Well, their teeth..." Cho-Do trailed off.

What did she do to their teeth?

Why stop mid-sentence?

I lightly tapped my teeth with my claw.

"Grrng..."

...My teeth are still intact, right?