NoveLight ™
"Namgoong, what is all this?"
Baekwoon appeared slightly flustered.
A reconnaissance unit sent to gather information about the Ten Thousand Great Mountains.
In reality, it was a special force aiming to capture the mystical creatures within.
The number of people Namgoong Yeon had gathered was much larger than Baekwoon had expected.
"Isn't it better to have as many people as possible?"
"Even so, this seems..."
"There are too many mystical creatures for a single person to handle."
Baekwoon reluctantly nodded.
If what Namgoong Yeon said was true, there wouldn’t be any need to worry about sharing the spoils. The mystical creatures should be plentiful.
Baekwoon was simply astonished at Namgoong Yeon’s resourcefulness.
Most of the gathered men were of lesser skill, but a few were powerful warriors Baekwoon recognized.
Among them, the most notable were the ones sent from Sichuan.
"How did you persuade the Tang family?"
"It took some effort to bring them in. The Dalroppo warrior will be of great help."
"...Namgoong, are you sure it's right to call that a warrior?"
Baekwoon glanced at the caged beast nearby.
"Graaaah!"
The massive creature roared suddenly, startling a young girl with her hair tied in buns, who trembled in fear.
"Eek! I-I’m sorry! I’ll remove the muzzle soon…"
Baekwoon looked at the scene with pity.
"Well, it’s not fully grown yet, so I suppose calling it a young warrior is more accurate. Bringing an adult from the Tang family wasn't an option."
"That's not what I meant... Never mind. We’ll make do somehow."
Baekwoon sensed it would take too long to explain the unease he was feeling.
At the same time, he wondered.
Was it really a good idea to bring a mystical creature along to hunt other mystical creatures?
What if the Tang family’s beast turned against them and joined forces with the other creatures?
Even if they managed to subdue it, it would undoubtedly lead to a conflict with the Tang family.
As Baekwoon wrestled with these thoughts, Namgoong Yeon spoke to him in a quiet voice.
"Baekwoon, you do know that you shouldn’t consume the Nedan (inner core) immediately after obtaining it, right?"
"Heh. Do you think I don’t know something so basic? Everyone gathered here understands that. Are you implying that I, Baekwoon, would steal a Nedan?"
Baekwoon didn’t bother hiding his irritation.
Namgoong Yeon quickly waved his hand, trying to clarify his words.
"That's not what I meant. I’m just worried you might fall into a Heart Demon."
"A Heart Demon?"
"Yes. Consuming a Nedan or spiritual medicine doesn’t automatically increase your internal energy. The more potent the medicine, the easier it is for a Heart Demon to appear."
"A Heart Demon, huh... I’m somewhat curious to experience it."
"Tsk, tsk. You’re a bold one."
"Isn’t overcoming a Heart Demon the key to reaching a higher level of mastery?"
Was it youthful ignorance, or simply brimming confidence?
Namgoong Yeon maintained his composure as he responded.
"It’s not that easy. The overwhelming power you feel at first makes it hard to think about advancing further. Most people lose their reason, drunk on the strength they gain."
"Have you ever encountered someone who fell to a Heart Demon?"
"I saw someone who was on the verge of inner demon deviation from afar. They had overwhelming power, but that’s where their growth ended. No, it’s not even growth at that point. They’ll soon die from inner demon deviation. Even if they somehow survive, they’ll never reach the next stage."
"Hmph. I’ve hit the same wall myself."
Baekwoon was desperate.
In his first year in the martial world, he became a second-rate master, and within two years, he had reached first-rate. He was known as the most promising young warrior of Zhongnan, and every martial artist knew his name.
Baekwoon believed the attention was well-deserved.
He had good looks and exceptional skill, and he was certain that he would be the one to bring fresh energy into the stagnant martial world.
But that was where it ended.
It had been ten years since he had reached the level of a first-rate master, yet he still hadn’t reached the pinnacle.
All that remained for him were memories of past glory.
The pressure of needing to advance to the next stage was suffocating Baekwoon.
"Soon, you’ll reach the pinnacle without taking dangerous gambles."
"Hmph..."
Just as their conversation was about to conclude, the girl with the buns cautiously approached.
"Um, excuse me..."
Baekwoon glared at her.
She was clearly a member of the Tang family.
"What is it?"
"The Dalroppo warrior seems to be growing increasingly agitated... How much longer until we reach the Ten Thousand Great Mountains?"
The girl spoke nervously, her eyes reflecting anxiety.
The longer they traveled, the more restless the reptile grew.
Baekwoon felt something wasn’t right.
If they were using a mystical creature, shouldn’t the person handling it be just as formidable?
This girl seemed timid and weak.
She didn’t even seem to know where the Ten Thousand Great Mountains were located.
At best, she was a third-rate warrior.
"Even at our fastest pace, it will take about fifteen days."
"Fifteen days...?"
Thud.
The girl collapsed.
It seemed she couldn’t handle the thought of controlling the terrifying creature for another fifteen days.
"…Namgoong, did you offend the Tang family?"
Why else would they send such an ill-suited person on such a dangerous mission?
Baekwoon couldn’t understand Namgoong Yeon’s and the Tang family’s true intentions.
【Green Basilisk】 can evolve into:
Let's review the options.
A rather standard choice.
It’s similar in color and shape to me as I am now.
Most are herbivores, so I could survive on plants alone... but it's too dull.
Pass.
A lizard that lives in the sea, probably.
I’d probably swim better, but it doesn’t appeal to me.
Who knows if there’s even a sea nearby, and I already have Soaring Dragon Step.
This one’s well-known.
Just like a sunflower turns toward the sun, this lizard does the same.
It's often called the Sungazer Lizard.
You could think of it as a superior version of the Armadillo Lizard.
Not a bad option.
Having scales like armor would complement my weaknesses.
And it looks cool.
Let’s keep it in mind for now.
Up until now, these are standard choices.
But the next ones are peculiar.
Why did this one suddenly appear?
It’s completely out of left field.
A special evolution should mean certain conditions were met, but I have no clue what they could be.
Now that I think about it, the special evolution conditions aren’t listed like before.
Let’s think about the advantages of a Thylacine.
As the name suggests, it’s probably a mammal.
Meaning it’s warm-blooded, not cold-blooded.
In terms of survival, being warm-blooded has its benefits over being cold-blooded.
After all, I was human once.
It’s an odd choice, but purely on its merits, it’s not bad.
I'll keep it in mind.
Now, the last one.
The legendary Dimetrodon.
This one’s also famous.
A top predator from the Permian period, often mistaken for a dinosaur.
Despite its lizard-like appearance and the large neural sail on its back, it wasn’t a dinosaur.
It was a synapsid.
I remember the shock I felt when I learned that.
It was like discovering Pteranodon wasn’t actually a dinosaur either.
But let’s refocus.
In terms of combat power, Dimetrodon is the strongest by far.
Though it may look odd, it was one of the top predators of the Permian period.
At over 5–6 meters in length, it was large enough to take on a piranha caiman.
While the Thylacine has the advantage of being warm-blooded, Dimetrodon can regulate its body temperature with the sail on its back.
Alright.
I’ll evolve into a Dimetrodon.
I need to evolve into the most powerful species possible.
My eyes are closing.
For a creature without eyelids, closing my eyes can only mean one thing: evolution is beginning.
Hopefully, the Dimetrodon will come with eyelids.
I can feel my body slowly changing.
Soon, I’ll become a Dimetrodon.
I’ll regulate my temperature by basking in the sun by the water’s edge.
I’ll defeat caimans and become the king of the swamp, catching fish until I evolve into the mightiest dinosaur, Spinosaurus...
...Spinosaurus?
A swamp appears.
A great creature glides through the water like a dragon.
With a massive sail on its back, the creature roars.
It is the supreme dinosaur.
The ultimate predator, Spi...
...
A splitting pain shot through my head.
Spinosaurus is the ultimate dinosaur.
I could see it vividly—the giant jaws snapping the neck of a pitiful Tyrannosaurus.
Yes, Spino is the true king of the dinos...
...
...
...Spino.
A fish-eating imitation dinosaur.
Spino.
A loser who fled to the water.
Spino.
An ordinary creature whose size pales in comparison to Tyrannosaurus.
Spino.
A victim of media hype.
Spino.
The cause of my downfall in this world.
Spinosaurus was a loser, beaten by the era of the Tyrannosaurus.
Did I really want to become a Spinosaurus?
No. That can’t be.
Flash.
My eyes shot open.
I saw the white egg that had surrounded me.
The sinister forces that tried to drag me into madness.
If I stay like this, I’ll evolve into a Dimetrodon.
Dimetrodon is strong.
Perhaps even stronger than a caiman.
But deep inside, something burns within me, rejecting that path.
I cannot accept it.
[「%! 자■□ 」has been activated.]
Crack!
The egg surrounding me shattered.
My actions were purely instinctual.
Stopping evolution midway could lead to unknown consequences.
But the images that had flashed through my mind...
Were they visions?
They made me realize something.
This evolution was wrong.
There’s no way I would have chosen Dimetrodon so easily.
I wouldn’t have chosen the path of a giant pelican.
My breathing steadied.
The internal energy from deep within my dantian circulated slowly throughout my body.
The fog in my mind cleared in an instant.
[You have overcome the Heart Demon.]
A bright status window gleamed before me.
A Heart Demon.
Yes, what I just experienced was undoubtedly a Heart Demon.
I had almost fallen into a dangerous path.
[New evolution options are available.]
Perhaps this was a reward for overcoming the Heart Demon.
I looked at the new choices with anticipation.
【Green Basilisk】 can evolve into:
Yes. Now these are the right choices.