The taste was terrible, but the Pure Heavenly Milk lived up to its reputation.

It greatly enhanced the performance of a random skill.

That’s no small thing.

This was truly worthy of being called Pure Heavenly Milk.

Skills
「Dragon Claw Hand」「Lesser Dragon Ascension Steps」「Lesser Circulation」「Hundred Poisons Immunity」「White Orchid Technique」「Gecko Wall Climb」
「Tail Severing LV9」「Sprint LV8」「Danger Sense LV7」「Tail Severing LV2」「Wild Eyes LV2」「Cold Blood LV1」「Predation LV1」「Gourmet LV2」「Hardened Skin LV1」 ……

Enhancing a skill’s performance likely means leveling it up.

Since it’s described as a "major" enhancement, I might expect a level jump from 1 to 10.

Some skills might even evolve further.

But what happens if the enhancement targets a skill without levels, like martial arts techniques?

Skills with levels are easy to measure—the higher the level, the stronger the effect.

But martial arts are different. Since they don’t have levels, there’s no clear system-based indication of how much stronger they get. It’s harder to gauge their improvement compared to skills.

So if a martial art gets a major enhancement?

That would be a jackpot.

I knew what I had to do.

I clasped my hands together.

With a reverent heart.

I prayed.

Please, let it be a martial art.

Not something like Hardened Skin or Tail Severing.

If Lesser Circulation got enhanced, it would become much more useful.

And if it opened up the path to Greater Circulation, my growth could skyrocket.

Lesser Dragon Ascension Steps would also be a great choice.

It’s already been handy, and an upgrade wouldn’t hurt. Since it’s a footwork technique, it could evolve into leg techniques later on.

White Orchid Technique wouldn’t be bad either.

It’s my only internal energy technique, after all.

A versatile technique, one that can develop in any direction.

But undoubtedly, the best outcome would be Dragon Claw Hand.

It’s become my main combat skill. I even sacrificed my former build to evolve into a Crocodile King Lizard to complement this martial art. It's already deadly, but if it gets enhanced, I’ll truly become the king of lizards.

Ding.

The status window message appeared.

Like a slot machine, it started cycling through options.

Please.

Please!

Only martial arts!

[「Hundred Poisons Immunity」 evolves into 「Thousand Poisons Immunity」.]

Let’s fold it.

Martial arts down the drain.

…

I’ve got the worst luck.

Of all things, it had to be Hundred Poisons Immunity.

Well, at least it’s a skill without levels.

I guess I can’t complain.

Becoming more resistant to poison is obviously not a bad thing.

But it’s not something I can use immediately.

If another martial art had been enhanced, I’d feel the boost instantly.

It’s like getting a shiny prize that’s mostly useless right now.

[B「Thousand Poisons Immunity」 reacts to the 【Crocodile King Lizard】.]

Huh?

[You have acquired the skill 「Venom Fangs LV1」.]

Now that changes things.

「Venom Fangs LV1」
You can inject venom through your fangs. You can continuously secrete venom, but it will consume MP over time.
MP cost: 5 per use.

My eyes gleamed.

Honestly, it’s not an amazing skill.

It feels like the first basic skill you’d get when advancing down a poison-focused path.

But I’ll take what I can get.

I needed something like this.

Now I finally had a way to meaningfully use all this MP.

Tail Severing only costs 1 MP per use.

Sprint consumes 2 MP.

My total MP is 50.

I’d have to sever my tail 50 times just to deplete my MP.

While HP increases made a noticeable difference, my MP hadn’t changed much since I was a Green Gecko Lizard. No matter how much it grew, I had no way to use it, which made me feel like I was wasting potential.

With this new skill, I can put that excess MP to good use.

And on top of that, it’s a venomous attack.

My species is a King Lizard.

Now, I’m a venomous King Lizard.

I’m practically a Komodo Dragon at this point.

It’s a little disappointing.

If I had learned Venom Fangs before evolving, I might have been able to evolve into a Komodo instead.

Then again, if I had come here before evolving, I might have been controlled by that fungus.

Should I test it out?

I approached one of the more intact millipede corpses lying around and sank my fangs into it.

Crunch.

As soon as I bit into it, venom began to seep from my fangs.

The initial venom release cost me 5 MP.

Then, over time, small amounts of MP were drained.

So that’s how it works.

Not bad.

Not bad at all.

I could activate it at will when biting an enemy, and I could even use it in midair without biting anything.

Shhh.

As green venom dripped from my fangs and splattered onto the ground, it instantly evaporated.

It looked like the venom had slightly eroded the floor. Its power seemed decent enough.

I couldn’t be sure exactly what type of venom it was, but it would definitely come in handy when facing the Piranha Caiman.

I was almost ready to take it down.

Now, all that’s left is to refine my abilities and develop a combat strategy.

With my new body and new skills, I need to hone my fighting style and raise my level as much as possible.

Luckily, I’m in the perfect place for that.

Since the Titanoboa died, no one has claimed dominion over the Silver Dragon Cave.

The unbearable void ends now.

I will be the one to stand at the top of this cave.

Listen up, residents of the Silver Dragon Cave.

The venomous Crocodile King Lizard has come.

How will you stop me?

A week had passed.

A lot had happened during that time.

Fighting those two snakes that used Snake Fist Technique still makes my heart race. They complemented each other, covering each other’s blind spots, attacking from both sides with Snake Fist. I was caught off guard several times by their strange movements.

The scariest part was their Twin Snake Fist, which they used by wrapping around each other. Even now, I occasionally shudder at the memory.

If I’d still been a Green Basilisk, I would’ve been done for.

But Snake Fist fell to my Dragon Claw Hand.

The giant mantis that used Praying Mantis Fist wasn’t an easy opponent either.

Its massive scythes, larger than my legs, swung freely, making it look like a master of unorthodox martial arts. And when it used its wings to increase its mobility, it became an even tougher opponent.

Its overwhelming power was brutal. If I hadn’t lured it into a low-ceilinged area, I might have become its prey.

Praying Mantis Fist fell to a modified version of Lesser Dragon Ascension Steps.

There were many strong opponents, but the one I remember the most was the giant scorpion.

Its two massive pincers, which it wielded as skillfully as a pair of swords, were already a challenge. Add its venomous tail, which lashed out like a spear, and I was under constant pressure.

On top of that, its exoskeleton was so tough it felt like I was facing an opponent wearing armor.

I cursed aloud during that first encounter.

It was huge, armored, had sharp claws, and could use poison?

What kind of ridiculous opponent was this?

Of course, the scorpion must have thought the same about me.

A massive, armored lizard with sharp claws and venomous attacks.

That’s me.

【Crocodile King Lizard LV5】
HP: 312/312
MP: 75/75
Titles
「Loved by Spiders」
「Master of the Silver Dragon Cave」

Look at these incredible stats.

It’s overwhelming.

I can’t help but feel nostalgic about my time as a Green Gecko Lizard.

Back then, I was running for my life from an Oviraptor.

Even as a Green Basilisk, I never thought of fighting it.

But now, I could turn it into a meal the moment I see it.

I’ve heard that dinosaur meat tastes like chicken, and I’m curious to try it.

I now have a new favorite next to Nephila Jurassica.

And that’s being the ruler of the Silver Dragon Cave.

「Master of the Silver Dragon Cave」
You have conquered the Silver Dragon Cave, where the dragon hides. No creatures within the cave will attack you first. Your presence in the shadows is enhanced, and various resistances are increased.

I had successfully conquered this monstrous cave.

After defeating countless powerful foes, I was granted this title as a trophy.

I wish I could brag about it.

Honestly, I was a bit surprised to get this title.

It seems like I earned it after the Titanoboa died, but the gap between first and second place was huge. I thought there would at least be a creature half as strong as the Titanoboa.

…Baek Yeon-Yeong must have done something before leaving.

Judging by the fact that she took the Titanoboa’s inner core, maybe she took out the other strong beasts too?

I have no idea. It’s not my concern.

What matters is that I now hold this title.

I’m the rightful ruler of the Silver Dragon Cave.

I could roll over and sleep here, and no one would dare touch me.

…But that doesn’t mean I’m going to lounge around scratching my belly.

I’ve trained as much as I could in this cave.

Skills
「Dragon Claw Hand」「Lesser Dragon Ascension Steps」「Lesser Circulation」「Thousand Poisons Immunity」「White Orchid Technique」「Gecko Wall Climb」
「Tail Severing LV10」「Sprint LV10」「Danger Sense LV7」「Venom Fangs LV5」「Tail Severing LV2」「Wild Eyes LV2」「Cold Blood LV1」「Predation LV1」「Gourmet LV3」「Hardened Skin LV3」 ……

I’ve grown a lot stronger.

Sure, I might still struggle in a head-on battle with the Piranha Caiman.

It does have the size advantage, after all.

But I don’t think I’ll lose.

I looked down at the objects beneath my feet.

A straw doll and multicolored threads.

And the poison technique I just acquired.

These will be the keys to taking down the Piranha Caiman.

Everything is ready.

It’s time to head back up.

Caiman.

Your rival has returned.