For a moment, I was stunned by the shocking sight.

I felt an incredibly powerful energy.

Originally, Winged Birds are beings that are both one and two, and two and one.

Now, they had become complete.

...I wasn’t sure if I should still call it a Winged Bird.

But since it was flying with wings, I suppose it qualified.

“Grrr…”

Despite its ridiculous appearance, it was a very dangerous opponent.

I couldn’t afford to let my guard down.

My situation wasn’t all that good either.

Whoosh.

It soared into the air.

Normally, birds that fly during the day do not have good night vision.

That’s why the Natchaljo probably traveled with Filbang, who could control fire.

But this creature was fundamentally not a bird.

Thus, the disadvantages of a dark environment didn’t apply to it.

Swoosh!

I heard a thunderous sound as the air split.

I quickly twisted my body to evade its attack.

Swish!

But I couldn’t completely dodge it.

It had two crests.

With a bizarre angle, it bent its body and ultimately succeeded in slicing me.

Boom!

My scales were easily torn apart, and blood flowed between the gaps.

Drip.

Drop.

“Grrr!”

The Winged Bird let out an unpleasant roar.

I hurriedly tightened my scales to staunch the bleeding.

That creature was strong.

Surprisingly so.

Had I ever encountered an enemy that could so easily tear my scales?

Had I ever faced an opponent faster than me?

No matter the enemy, I had always managed to gain at least one advantage.

Even against stronger foes, I had found a way to exploit that advantage and ultimately win.

But this Winged Bird had strength that rendered all my experiences meaningless.

It was superior to me in every aspect, and its unpredictability was another level above.

Moreover, it was actively utilizing its subordinates.

The beasts gathered around it in grotesque numbers.

Those creatures would distract me and then swiftly strike me down with their rapid attacks.

Gradually, my stamina would deplete like a gentle rain soaking through.

Eventually, I would fall.

I couldn’t envision a way to defeat it.

Ugh.

I clenched my teeth.

But I couldn’t give up.

I promised myself I wouldn’t run away again.

...And it wasn’t like I had the option to flee anyway.

Stay calm.

In situations like this, I needed to remain composed.

I had to use the best moves available to me.

If even a single misstep occurred, I would die.

Swish!

I quickly pulled my body back to create distance from the Winged Bird.

However, I was now much closer to the encroaching beasts.

“Graaaar!”

I let out a roar and plunged into the throng of beasts.

Crash.

Bam!

Boom!

I struck one beast’s head with my foreleg and bit into another’s neck.

Swish!

I swung my tail and split another opponent in two.

The battlefield was like a hellscape.

To replenish my stamina somehow, I bit down as fiercely as I could.

Boom!

Most of the enemies exploded, but I still managed to salvage something.

Crunch.

Crunch.

I chewed on a piece of meat, not even knowing where it came from.

I wouldn’t level up from this.

The effect of predation only kicked in when my belly was full.

But I could at least replenish some health.

I fought amidst the encircling enemies, keeping my eyes locked on the Winged Bird.

Whoosh.

It soared into the sky again.

As I had anticipated, the Winged Bird aimed for me when I was preoccupied with fighting those beasts.

It would likely try to slice me down with another lightning-fast strike.

But I wouldn’t fall for it a second time.

Whoosh.

I readied my legs.

I had to react to the incoming attack.

Swoosh!

It was coming.

The speed was difficult to track with my eyes, but I knew an attack was coming.

I had to use all the resources I had gathered in one go and end this in one strike.

Swish!

I stomped on a Terror Bird’s head and leaped into the air.

I aimed for a position where I could strike its head while avoiding the blade-like crest.

I spun my body and swung my tail wide.

Swish!

A whip-like tail swung at tremendous speed.

No matter how powerful the Winged Bird was, it couldn’t survive this attack.

Boom!

Blood splattered.

Not from the Winged Bird, but from my own body.

“Grrr!”

“Gyaaa!”

What on earth was happening?

I had clearly dodged its attack.

I widened my eyes and checked the Winged Bird’s condition.

It hadn’t been hit by my attack.

It had released its grip on my tail to evade my strike.

And at the same time, it had passed by with its crest.

“Cough…”

I spat out blood.

I was in disbelief at such a bizarre attack.

It was unbelievable that the Dimetrodon could fly, and now it was attacking in this way.

I couldn’t afford to lament my situation.

Having been struck by its attack, I crashed to the ground, and the beasts immediately charged at me.

“Graaaar!”

I frantically moved my body to fight back against them.

I bit down on the enemies with wild ferocity, trying to consume as much heat energy as possible.

Crunch.

Swish!

Boom!

But the amount of blood I was losing was far greater.

As the battle dragged on, my consciousness began to fade.

I was so exhausted that I couldn’t even use my Dash, the technique that consumed the least amount of resources.

Thud.

The impact of my body hitting the ground felt heavy.

I could barely stand.

My eyes were failing me.

My bones had already been shattered, and even my claws had broken.

“Grrr…”

I had stepped right into a trap.

They had sealed my level-up and pressured me into this corner.

Sending just a Winged Bird would have made escaping difficult, but they had laid such an excessive trap.

They must have wanted me dead.

“Grrr…”

Would I die so easily?

“Graaaar!”

I swung my tail and let out the loudest roar I could muster.

I couldn’t die here.

There were people waiting for me.

If I died here, the Snake Queen would be in danger.

The Elder Honhui would be in danger too.

The previous Bird King and Jjakkie would surely be in danger.

Ugh.

I clenched my teeth hard.

I couldn’t die.

That would bring shame to my mentor.

Shikhikh would surely not want that.

[The fourth divine being, 【Volpython Lv25】 does not wish for your death.]

Dangsoyeong would not be able to return home.

[The third divine being, 【Dangsoyeong】 is anxiously waiting, not knowing the reason why.]

Tusk would grieve.

[The second divine being, 【Anthracomartus Lv30】 believes your defeat is unacceptable.]

Pus would not believe it.

[The first divine being, 【Atercopus Lv30】 believes in your victory.]

“Grrr…”

Messages I hadn’t seen in a long time appeared.

They were words sent from the beings who had merged into my Kaek.

With the encouragement of my precious companions, I recovered all my strength.

Such a miraculous event couldn’t possibly happen.

If there were such a thing, it would mean that divine beings truly existed.

[Some of the experience points acquired by the divine beings will be shared with you.]

...Yes.

Divine beasts could also be considered divine beings in a way.

[Your level is rising.]

[Your level is rising.]

[Your level is rising.]

[Your level is rising.]

Boom!

The beasts surrounding me all collapsed at once.

My mind cleared.

All the accumulated fatigue melted away like snow.

I was given another chance.

A chance to kill these beasts and the Winged Bird and escape this place.

But even so, the situation remained desperate.

Dozens of beasts.

And a Winged Bird that moved as if it were one with another.

My condition had returned to normal, but escaping this labyrinth alone was nearly impossible.

“Grrr…”

No.

I can do this.

[The goddess, 【Nephela Jurassica Lv30】 smiles at you.]

Nephela, who showed me the same smile as before, now placed a hand on her chest, as if feeling my racing heartbeat.

Of course, the Nephela I was seeing now wasn’t a physical entity.

Like the Snake Queen before, she might be an illusion that could be called a manifestation.

After all, she hadn’t evolved into Arachnia yet.

Even so, just knowing that someone was by my side brought me comfort.

The Nephela I saw now wasn’t alone.

Tusk, Pus, Dangsoyeong, Shikhikh.

They were all there with me.

The foolish divine beings were worried about me, sending all their divine energy they had gathered to me.

“Grrr!”

The Winged Bird, taken aback by the sudden situation.

The beasts it commanded quickly gathered in response to its call.

There were so many that it felt like watching a swarm of black ants.

The beasts were rushing in, and standing against them were a spider and a lizard.

The battlefield shifted once more.

Nephela Jurassica raised one hand and tapped me lightly.

Even without words, I understood.

‘Are you ready, Lizard?’

It was likely a cliché line.

I raised one of my legs in response.

There was only one thing I wanted to say.

‘Of course, Spider.’