Big.

Very big.

Of course, the size of a lizard can sometimes be exaggerated.

For instance, the Green Basilisk is a lizard that can grow up to 80 centimeters in length. Some might consider that a decent size.

But the problem was that most of that length was taken up by its tail.

That’s why the mighty Green Basilisk fit so easily into Baek Yeon-Yeong’s hand—because its actual body length, minus the tail, was only about 20 centimeters.

At that adorable size, the best the little lizard could do was bite Baek Yeon-Yeong’s pale fingers.

…Thinking back, it’s a wonder I survived at all.

Sigh.

Anyway, just because a lizard is long doesn’t necessarily mean it’s big.

But now, things were different.

I couldn’t get an accurate comparison, given that I was looking at the Snake Queen and Shik Shik.

Still, even by just standing still, I could tell how massive I had become.

In my basic lizard form—on all fours—my head reached the height of a human’s shoulder.

If I straightened my legs, I’d be even taller than that.

At this size, I was already a huge lizard.

And unlike other lizards, I could walk on two legs quite comfortably.

So if I stood on two legs?

I’d become a monster lizard at least three meters tall.

If I pulled off the trick of balancing on my tail, I’d be more of a monster than a lizard.

“Gegegek!”

I had grown far too large.

“How is it? Have you gotten used to your new size?”

It had been some time since I evolved into Komodo-Rania.

But I still hadn’t gotten used to it.

My size as a Komodo was the most comfortable for moving around.

“Gegegek…”

I let out a frustrated gegek sound.

In battle, this size would certainly be useful.

Just by rolling around, I could deal a critical blow to most enemies.

But outside of combat, in everyday life, there was no need for such a large body.

Even the Snake Queen, when not in her true form, moved around in her human guise, likely because it was more practical for space.

“Hmmm... yes, it seems the size is a problem. It doesn’t bother me, but it must be very inconvenient for the princess…”

“Hiiieeek…”

Shik Shik was sticking close to me, trying hard to measure my size.

There was no way that chubby little snake could measure my full length.

“We’ll need to shrink you down.”

That’s possible?

Why didn’t you mention that earlier!

“Gek?”

You’re not suggesting draining my energy and leaving me as a shriveled husk, are you?

“It would be best if you could take on a human form…”

A human form?

I could become human?

“But you’re still far from being able to achieve that.”

Great. So much for that idea.

I didn’t think I’d be able to take on a human form anytime soon anyway.

You’d need to be at least as strong as the Snake Queen to pull off something like polymorphing.

And even she still had a snake’s lower half.

It was a realm far beyond my reach at the moment.

“But reducing your size is not entirely impossible.”

I looked at the Snake Queen with bright, hopeful eyes.

I needed to shrink this body of mine.

It was becoming way too inconvenient.

If the spiders saw me now, they’d likely run away in terror.

And if I tried to joke around by putting Tang So-Yeong’s head in my mouth, I might end up swallowing her whole by accident.

Even Shik Shik seemed to be getting more and more discouraged. Though it was growing at a fast pace itself, my sudden growth had completely overshadowed it, and it had probably lost all motivation.

“There is an ability called Miniaturization.”

Miniaturization!

That would solve most of my problems.

I could shrink down to a more comfortable size during normal times and return to full size during battle to make the most of my large frame.

Shrinking down would essentially mean concealing my power.

It would be like adding another hidden card to my deck.

“Gegek!”

Teach me now, Snake Queen!

“I’m sorry, but I can’t teach you that skill. Since I’ve already taken on a human form, I don’t have a need for miniaturization.”

“Gek…”

“But I know someone who can.”

“Gek!”

Yes! I knew I could count on you.

Please, grant me another fateful encounter!

“Honhwi. A dualistic being that seems to embody both light and darkness at the same time.”

Even the name sounds cool.

It must be some sort of divine beast, too.

I couldn’t tell what kind of creature it was just from the name.

“It’s a species quite similar to yours. It resembles the dragons that roam this jungle, but it’s much smaller. Perhaps only half the size of the princess—extremely tiny.”

A species similar to mine?

A lizard or a dinosaur, maybe.

Smaller than Shik Shik?

How small could it be?

A very tiny dinosaur.

And a name like Honhwi.

Honhwi…

Wait, could it be a Compsognathus?

That tiny dinosaur?

A Procompsognathus?

“If you find that being, you’ll be able to learn the secrets of miniaturization.”

“Baek-Woon. Are you sure you don’t want to stop by the swamplands?”

“It’d be nice to obtain a beast core, sure. But I’ve realized that the beast core isn’t what’s truly important, so there’s no need to go.”

Baek-Woon was fiddling with the sword at his waist.

Since meeting the being known as Komodo, Baek-Woon had gained some insight.

It was only a faint realization, but it felt as though he had glimpsed the key to breaking through the peak-level realm he had been unable to penetrate for so long.

If he could raise his level through his own realizations rather than relying on a beast core, the core would no longer be necessary.

Baek-Woon was now focused on getting out of the Ten-Thousand Mountain as quickly as possible.

Luckily, nothing had happened so far.

Though they were still in the jungle, no beasts had attacked them.

If things kept going this way, they’d escape the jungle and eventually leave the Ten-Thousand Mountain.

“We must have received the grace of the great Komodo.”

“Grace? And why are you speaking so respectfully of it?”

“Hey! ‘It’?! Baek-Woon, the Komodo is a divine beast! Didn’t you see it yourself?”

“…I did.”

Baek-Woon was also grateful to Komodo.

But unlike Jang Bong, who saw it as an object of worship, Baek-Woon viewed Komodo as a wall he needed to overcome.

Even though Komodo was a divine beast, its nature was closer to that of a wild animal. Still, the energy Baek-Woon sensed from it was different from that of ordinary beasts. Its level of inner energy was comparable to that of a first-rate warrior—no, perhaps even someone at the pinnacle of martial arts.

If a speechless lizard could reach such heights, there was no reason Baek-Woon couldn’t achieve the same.

To him, Komodo was both a source of gratitude and an obstacle to surpass.

“And… it’s not just in my head, but ever since I started worshipping Komodo, I feel stronger.”

“That’s just your imagination.”

“No, seriously, just try believing it for once.”

Baek-Woon scoffed.

Gaining strength just from worship?

That couldn’t possibly be true.

That was sorcery, plain and simple.

Even if Jang Bong’s words were true, Baek-Woon didn’t want to become stronger through such means.

He wanted to break through the barrier of the peak realm with his own strength.

That was his resolve.

“Kekekek!”

Suddenly, a strange cry echoed.

Baek-Woon immediately drew his sword and assumed a defensive stance.

“Baek-Woon, look… ha, haha.”

Jang Bong let out a baffled laugh as he looked at the creature in front of them.

A tiny lizard was standing in a peculiar pose.

Judging by its long neck, it seemed more like a small dinosaur than a lizard, like the ones Baek-Woon had encountered before.

Baek-Woon and Jang Bong called these creatures dragons—in reality, dinosaurs.

“You little thing. Don’t you see we’re having a conversation?”

“Wait. There’s no need to harm it if it’s not attacking us.”

“…I wasn’t going to. Not after receiving guidance from the great Komodo.”

Jang Bong smiled awkwardly.

There was no need to provoke the strange little dinosaur.

Just as they were about to continue walking...

“Duck!”

Baek-Woon shouted, and Jang Bong immediately lowered his head.

CRACK.

With a deafening crash, the tree in front of them fell.

What in the world was that sound?

Jang Bong was left in shock.

“H-Huh?!”

A gigantic dragon, twice the size of the petrifying bird they had previously encountered, appeared.

Baek-Woon stared it down, sword in hand.

It was strong.

In terms of sheer strength, it far surpassed the bird.

It reminded him of Komodo’s overwhelming power.

Baek-Woon swallowed hard.

He had resolved to break through the wall that stood before him.

A smile crept across his face.

“I didn’t expect an opportunity to come so soon…”

“Kraaaaaah!”

The massive dragon charged at Baek-Woon with terrifying force.

He tightened his grip on his sword.

Last time, the petrifying bird had caught him off guard with its unexpected power of petrification.

But this time, things were different.

His sword was about to unleash the full power of the Thirty-Six Heavenly Sword Techniques.

BOOOOM!

The earth-shaking roar echoed.

“Grrrr...”

The charging dragon suddenly buckled.

“Gr…”

It began to foam at the mouth and collapsed on the spot.

Thud!

“B-Baek-Woon?!”

Had Baek-Woon’s sword struck it down?

No.

His sword hadn’t even touched the creature, yet this was the result.

Had it suddenly succumbed to some illness?

No, that wouldn’t explain the thunderous crash they had heard earlier.

Baek-Woon and Jang Bong couldn’t make sense of the situation.

What had just happened?

“Kekekekek!”

A familiar cry rang out.

Looking closely, they noticed a small lizard perched atop the fallen dragon’s body.

Its vacant eyes and sluggish movements were unmistakable.

Jang Bong shouted in disbelief.

“T-That’s…!”

He remembered it from an ancient text.

That strange dance.

And that bizarrely comical face.

It was a legendary divine beast, said to be on par with Komodo.

“The Tusulisuu! (Tusu-Lisuu)”

Though the world knew it as Tusulisuu, those who truly understood called it Honhwi.

The one who had never abandoned its weakest form.