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**[Elasmo Teryum]**

Its body length is about 5 meters, and it can weigh up to 5 tons, making it the largest rhinoceros. It is often referred to as the unicorn of the glacial era, characterized by its long horn. The sharp horn, which can grow up to 2 meters, is a threatening weapon that prevents most predators from even thinking about bothering the Elasmo Teryum.

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Calm down.

Despite its appearance, that’s a unicorn.

It’s somewhat horse-like.

It has a horn, and judging by how it’s rushing toward me, excited by the scent of a maiden’s blood, it must indeed be a unicorn.

“Gwooooh!”

Its roar is very unicorn-like too.

Now my task is clear.

I must show my form as a pure lizard, then obtain its horn.

“Gekgek.”

I wobbled and revealed myself.

The unicorn was staring straight at me.

It seems it realized that I’m a pure being and is about to give me its horn.

Look! Its horn is gradually darkening.

…Wait, it’s darkening?

“Ilchuru….”

The unicorn let out a sound similar to human speech.

Is it somehow close to being a spirit?

Even so, how can a creature with such a head speak words that aren’t human?

“Ilcheoor!”

Though it sounds clumsy, it was definitely a meaningful language.

“Ilchurilcheoor!”

…Is it just a sound it makes?

“Ilchurilcheoor!”

Is it just repeating something it picked up somewhere?

Regardless of what it is, it remains fascinating.

What’s important is not its cries.

What matters is that it’s charging at me with a roar.

I can’t understand it, but it seems like it doesn’t like me.

There’s no avoiding a fight.

[「Status: Miniaturization」 is being released.]

**Thud!**

[The effect of 「Miniaturization lv1」 allows the application of 「Status: Gigantification」.]

The unicorn wasn’t surprised by my sudden increase in size.

After all, in terms of sheer size, it still outweighed me.

If I got stabbed by that horn, I’d become nothing more than a lizard skewer.

**Kwahhhh!**

I blocked its charge with my shoulder.

The unicorn’s horn missed me, slicing through the air.

To be precise, I received the base of its horn on my shoulder.

There were no blunt edges, but compared to the tip, it could be considered blunt.

And that was within the defensive capability of my **Dragon Scale**.

**Cheeeek…**

The recoil from blocking the unicorn’s charge pushed me back.

In a normal scenario, I would have been blown away entirely.

**Cuddledud.**

But by exerting strength in my legs, I managed to stop myself before getting pushed too far.

“Ilchuru…?”

It seemed to finally show a hint of confusion.

Naturally, it would be shocked that a lizard far lighter than itself was able to block its charge.

“Grrrrr…”

I had no ill feelings toward it, but I couldn’t just let it go.

I delivered a strike infused with the essence of my dragon strike to its head.

**Kwahhh!**

Having realized how to use my energy efficiently compared to before, my power was now incomparable to when I faced the **Megalania**.

**Jeeer!**

The unicorn’s large head slammed into the ground.

**Kugugugu!**

The ground trembled from the impact.

However, it wasn’t to be underestimated either.

For most creatures, the force would be enough to break their neck and kill them instantly.

Yet, the neck of the unicorn was filled with such overwhelming muscles that it was nothing short of transcendent. That thick neck stood firm even after taking my blow directly.

“Puruurr!”

The unicorn immediately raised its head and got back up.

It seemed as though it would step back for a moment, but then it charged at me again with its horn leading the way.

If it attacked like before, it would suffer the same fate.

It probably knew that.

That’s why the unicorn employed a different tactic this time.

It didn’t try to stab me.

Instead, it swung its horn around like a sword.

**Bwooooom!**

It moved as if it were wielding a sword.

**Swoosh!**

This is harder to avoid than I thought.

Its horn is a powerful weapon, dangerous even to me.

To counter that attack, I would have to seize the blunt part of its horn, but if it comes at me like this, that would be impossible.

I quickly moved my body to evade its strikes.

**Swish!**

In that moment.

I felt a powerful energy writhing from the unicorn.

It was also a creature that had awakened its mental techniques, just like me.

Its sharp horn was infused with that energy.

But that wasn’t all.

If it had a mental technique, there would be a corresponding martial art.

**Swoosh!**

Countless slicing strikes came at me from thirty-six different angles simultaneously.

It was the **Thirty-Six Techniques of the World** that **Baek Yun** had shown me.

**Swish!**

Compared to that, its skill level could be seen as lacking.

Though **Baek Yun** was still an unrefined practitioner, his skill in swordsmanship was quite exceptional.

However, the lower skill level wasn’t a problem.

Its overwhelming size made up for that gap.

That massive body, combined with incredible speed.

And the intricate techniques of the **Thirty-Six Techniques of the World**.

Is there anyone who can evade that?

Of course, that would be true if I hadn’t seen that technique before.

[Using 「Reverse Scale lv1」.]

[Temporarily acquiring 「Reverse Pulse Technique Activation」.]

**Thud!**

The **Thirty-Six Techniques of the World** was something I had already experienced.

**Dragon-Penetrating Charge, Roaring Dragon Ripple.**

**Kwahhh!**

Using the skill of **Roaring Dragon Ripple**, I stomped down forcefully.

**Swoosh!**

The ground split open in an instant, as if a drought had occurred.

As long as that creature’s foot remained on the ground, gaps would inevitably appear.

**Bwooom.**

Without missing the opportunity, I swung my hands.

**Clang clang clang!**

I met its horn.

Its horn was a sword, and my claws were also swords.

**Clang clang clang!**

A fierce clash produced sparks.

**Kakakakak!**

The **Thirty-Six Techniques of the World** was ultimately countered by my dragon strike.

But it wasn’t over yet.

The unicorn still had energy left.

It swung its horn widely.

The moment I moved to evade, it also withdrew its body.

The unicorn took a deep breath.

It seemed to be preparing for a powerful technique.

To counter a big technique, I needed to respond with a big technique.

I was just about to use my **Guest Death Beam** in time with its movements.

“Gwooooh!”

It roared and immediately turned its body.

Then it dashed away at the same speed it had charged at me before.

For a moment, I was left stunned, unable to react.

Is it fleeing?

Now?

Thinking it would lose?

No, wait a minute. Just from our brief encounter, I was able to grasp its nature.

It wasn’t that it was fleeing out of fear of me.

It had simply discovered something more important than fighting me.

Whatever that may be, my goal is still the unicorn's horn.

I immediately chased after it.

By now, the unicorn’s figure had long since vanished.

It was faster than I was when it charged.

But chasing it wasn’t difficult.

It had left clear traces as it dashed through the trees.

**Thud thud!**

After running for quite a while, I was finally able to find the unicorn.

It was on a distant hill.

However, it was missing its horn.

And in that state, it was wagging its tail.

What’s going on?

Why is its horn missing?

And why isn’t it taking this seriously and is just satisfied instead?

Something felt off.

**Ssssh.**

I flicked my tongue, using the lizard's acute sense of smell to its fullest.

I caught a whiff of a scent that was both familiar and strange.

A fragrant aroma wafted through the air.

It was reminiscent of the honey-like dumplings I tasted in the **Silver Dragon Cave**.

That wasn’t all.

I could smell a human scent too.

It was even more fragrant than the honey.

The unicorn had lost its horn.

It wore a very happy smile.

And the scent of the human was evident.

That insane unicorn must have rushed off, captivated by the scent of a pure maiden during our battle. Not only that, but it had even sacrificed its weapon, its horn.

…Despite its appearance, it’s definitely a unicorn.

Now, there’s no reason to bother the unicorn.

What’s urgent now is to meet the human who took its horn.

But first, I had something to do.

For some reason, it seemed humans were afraid of my appearance.

Even if they were special beings like **Baek Yeon-young** or **Dang So-young**, ordinary people like **Jang Bong** or **Baek Yun** were wary of my form.

Now that I had grown larger, their wariness would only increase.

I used my miniaturization to reduce my size.

Even being a **King Crocodile Lizard** was intimidating enough

 to scare people, so I would shrink even smaller.

To about the size of a **Green Basilisk**.

**Swoosh…**

Good.

With this size, they shouldn’t be afraid, right?

Let’s negotiate in this state.

If I throw them a few scales, they might gladly take it.

If a bad person tries to hunt me, I can just unleash the **Guest Death Beam** on them.

I dashed through the underbrush toward the source of the human scent.

**Thud thud!**

Since I learned directly from the Little Dragon, I was able to navigate the jungle at an even faster pace than before.

**Bam bam bam!**

After a long run, I finally spotted a human.

Even if it was small, if I suddenly appeared, there was a chance they might get startled.

I needed to move as politely as possible.

I confirmed the human’s appearance.

…Wait a minute, that looks familiar.

Black hair.

Blue eyes.

And pure white skin.

…**Baek Yeon-young**?

What a fortunate turn of events.

If she refuses to negotiate, it would have been troublesome, but if the other party is **Baek Yeon-young**, things change.

If I gently wag my tail, she might give me the unicorn’s horn.

I was also curious about how the spiders were doing.

Let’s approach confidently.

And show the results I’ve accumulated so far.

Using the essence of **Dragon-Penetrating Charge**, I leaped toward my target.

My target was **Baek Yeon-young**’s soft, firm fingers.

**Swoosh!**

I landed successfully.

Before she could react, I made my move.

**Waaah!**

**Thud.**

As expected, it didn’t penetrate easily.

I gnawed at it, but the result didn’t change.

However, I hadn’t used my full power yet.

This time….

…This tastes a bit different?

“Gekgek?”

I lifted my head and looked up at **Baek Yeon-young**.

Something was a bit off.

From a distance, it looked like her hair was black.

But now, that color was fading.

Her energy pouch also seemed unusual.

It was grander than **Baek Yeon-young**’s.

No, it wouldn’t fall behind the Snake Queen’s.

It might even be larger than the Snake Queen’s.

**Thud!**

I jumped off her finger immediately.

When I looked up after landing, the hair of the woman I thought was **Baek Yeon-young** had completely turned white.

As if that color had been its original hue all along.

“Hmm.”

She let out a sound that didn’t seem like something **Baek Yeon-young** would make as she crossed her arms and looked down at me.

“What’s this, a handsome lizard making some noise?”